Breaking Update
Ramallah resident defrauds Israelis of millions
Ramallah resident defrauds Israelis of millions using fake bank transfers & disguised drivers. Investigation exposes systematic fraud since mid-2024.
For over a year, a covert and complex investigation was conducted by the Fraud Unit in the Central District and the Crime Fighting Unit (YALAP) of the Samaria Region in the Judea and Samaria District, which exposed the scope of fraud offenses perpetrated by a Palestinian suspect, a 51-year-old resident of Ramallah.
The investigation revealed that the suspect had been operating systematically since mid-2024 under false identities and disguised as a legitimate buyer for online sales platforms. The suspect created a false representation of bank transfers that appeared completely authentic, thereby defrauding innocent citizens.
After allegedly providing ‘proof’ of payment, he sent uninvolved drivers to collect the goods, while the sellers believed the payment had already been transferred to their accounts. In hindsight, they discovered they had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam.
In one of the cases uncovered during the investigation, the suspect defrauded a single mother in financial distress. Due to her financial situation, she was forced to sell her expensive photography equipment, valued at thousands of shekels. The suspect contacted her, identifying himself by the alias ‘Omri,’ expressed interest in the equipment, engaged in a lengthy conversation with her, and built a sense of trust.
Subsequently, he arranged a meeting point for the equipment collection via his son. However, at the last moment, he claimed his son could not make it and sent a taxi to collect the equipment instead. The mother, believing the money was on its way to her, handed over the expensive equipment. Only later did she realize she had fallen victim to fraud and was left without the equipment and without the money.
She contacted the suspect on WhatsApp and pleaded with him to return her valuable equipment due to her situation, but her appeals fell on deaf ears.
In early January of this year, during a joint operation by the Yamam unit of the Border Police and IDF forces, the suspect was arrested at his home in Ramallah. Several mobile phones and a tablet were seized from him, which are suspected of being used to commit these offenses of fraud and citizen deception. The suspect was transferred for investigation by police units in the Judea and Samaria and Central districts, and his arrest was repeatedly extended by the court to allow for the completion of the investigation into all cases.
Yesterday, upon the conclusion of the investigation and after the evidentiary basis was established, a statement of intent to indict was filed. Over 150 indictments are expected against him for offenses of obtaining property by deception under aggravated circumstances, forgery, and impersonation.
