Suspicion: Posed as a Man and Conducted Romantic and Sexual Relationships with Several Women

A woman in her 20s was arrested in Petah Tikva on suspicion of posing as a man and conducting romantic and sexual relationships with several women via phone and the internet. The investigation began on July 26 with complaints from four women, and a fifth complainant was later identified. The police will request an extension of her remand and permission to publish her name.

Police officers from the Petah Tikva station in the Central District arrested today (Sunday) a suspect in her 20s, on suspicion that she posed as a man and over the years conducted romantic and sexual relationships with several women via phone and the internet. The investigation was opened on July 26 upon receiving complaints from four women, who said that the suspect conducted a romantic and sexual relationship with them while posing as a man. Later, investigators located an additional complainant, so at this stage the police are aware of five victims. Today, officers raided her apartment in Petah Tikva, arrested her, and conducted a search in which laptops, a mobile phone, and digital storage devices were seized. Tomorrow, the suspect will be brought to a hearing on extending her remand, and the police will request permission to publish her name in order to locate additional victims. The police call on the public to be vigilant when forming relationships in the online space.