Large fraud network exposed by Central District police
The Central District police have uncovered a large fraud network operated by a young married couple. More than fifty people, mostly from the Arab sector, fell victim to the scheme. The perpetrators, posing as insurance company employees, obtained secret codes for cash withdrawals and used them at ATMs while traveling on electric scooters. The damage amounts to hundreds of thousands of shekels. The investigation has been ongoing since September, the suspects have been arrested, and the police are requesting an extension of their detention.
The Central District police of Israel have put an end to a criminal group specializing in telephone and digital fraud. The organizers of the scheme turned out to be a young married couple from the central part of the country, both around twenty years old. More than fifty people, mostly from the Arab sector, fell victim to the fraud. The total financial damage is estimated at hundreds of thousands of shekels. The perpetrators contacted potential victims, posing as employees of major insurance companies. Armed with accurate personal data, they convinced people that they had large payouts from old accounts and offered to help them get the money quickly, without paying taxes and with a minimal commission. A key element of the scheme was obtaining a secret code for contactless cash withdrawals from ATMs. After receiving the code, the couple would ride up to the terminals on an electric scooter, withdraw the cash, and disappear. Investigative measures have been underway since September of last year. The accumulated evidence allowed the police to identify the suspects and carry out arrests. The police intend to ask the Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court to extend the detention to complete the investigation.