Couple Arrested for Insurance Scam Targeting 97 Victims

Israeli police have arrested a couple, Priel Ben David and Sahar Abutbul, accused of defrauding 97 individuals in a sophisticated insurance scam. The pair allegedly posed as insurance company representatives, convincing victims they could help them access pension funds without paying a 35% tax. The victims, primarily from the Arab community, were instructed to provide ATM withdrawal codes, which were then used by Abutbul to withdraw an average of 5,000 shekels per victim, totaling approximately 408,000 shekels over two years.

Investigators from the Central District Fraud Unit initially received around 20 complaints but expanded their investigation after realizing the scope of the operation. They identified a common tactic where the female suspect, posing as 'Mital' or 'Avital,' demonstrated extensive knowledge of the victims' insurance policies to gain their trust. The male suspect was later identified through ATM surveillance footage, with distinctive tattoos, including three stars under his eye, leading to his arrest.

During the investigation, police utilized signal intelligence and cyber units to trace the suspects, who used untraceable SIM cards and frequently changed phones. The couple, who have two young children, initially denied the charges and invoked their right to remain silent. However, investigators were able to obtain voice samples from Ben David, which matched recordings of the calls made to victims, solidifying the case against her.

One victim, a mother of four working at a kindergarten, described how the scammer's confident demeanor and detailed knowledge of her insurance policy made the fraud seem legitimate. She recounted feeling immense distress after realizing the money, which she described as 'food for my children,' was stolen. The couple has been indicted, and authorities are seeking to extend their detention until the conclusion of legal proceedings.