# Hackers Use AI to Target LatAm Banks

> CyberCartel employs AI agents from Claude and Grok to breach Latin American financial institutions.
- Title: Hackers Use AI to Target LatAm Banks · Pymnts | Shortify
- Summary: CyberCartel employs AI agents from Claude and Grok to breach Latin American financial institutions. CyberCartel used AI models to automate attacks on over…
- Keywords: breaking, cybercartel, claude, grok, latam banks, ai attacks, cybersecurity, business, finance, Hackers, Use, Target
- Source: Pymnts — https://pymnts.com/cybersecurity/2026/hackers-employ-grok-and-claude-to-attack-latam-banks
- Author: PYMNTS
- Published: 2026-10-21T17:50:08+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: breaking, cybercartel, claude, grok, latam banks, ai attacks, cybersecurity, business, finance
## Hackers Employ AI Agents
CyberCartel reportedly used AI agents from Claude and Grok to automate cyberattacks on Latin American businesses.
## Attack Targets 400+ Financial Institutions
The hackers attacked more than 400 Latin American targets including banks and payments companies using AI agents.
## AI Gives Cybercriminals Advantage
AI models let hackers carry out attacks quickly and in greater numbers than corporate defenses can handle.
## Straiker CEO on Defense Gap
Straiker CEO Ankur Shah said enterprises are not ready for AI-powered cyberattacks.

> ‘Offense is way ahead of defense right now, that’s just how it is,’ Straiker CEO Ankur Shah told The Information. ‘Enterprises are just not ready.’
## Anthropic Blocks AI Use
Anthropic quickly blocked hackers’ use of Claude after finding out about the attacks.
## Key takeaway

CyberCartel used AI models to automate attacks on over 400 Latin American banks and payment companies.