Elderly Exploited Through Deceptive Schemes, Legal Aid Reports

The Israeli Ministry of Justice's Legal Aid is handling numerous cases of financial exploitation and fraud targeting the elderly. These schemes often involve perpetrators gaining the trust of seniors, sometimes through therapeutic relationships or even impersonation, to pressure them into signing loans, transferring property, or revealing financial information. Victims have lost homes, savings, and even funds meant for essential medication.

One case involves Irina Ponomaryov, 76, who never drove but discovered a car registered in her name, financed by a loan she never requested. This led to traffic violations and fines, and a reduction in her social security benefits. She is now engaged in a legal battle to clear her name and debts, with her lawyer filing suit to invalidate the loan, claiming her signature was forged. The loan, initially NIS 69,000, grew to over NIS 101,000 with interest.

Another victim was convinced by her Chinese medicine therapist that she would die without purchasing increasingly expensive treatments. This led her to sell her home and transfer the proceeds to the therapist, leaving her destitute. The elderly woman, who is childless, reported the incident to the police, but the case was reportedly closed, prompting her lawyer to appeal for its reopening.

Sophisticated scams also target seniors through phone calls. In one instance, a 73-year-old woman lost NIS 50,000 after scammers impersonated her grandson, using his voice and phone number to convince her to hand over her savings to a courier for "safekeeping." The grandson had previously warned her about such scams, but the impersonation was convincing enough to deceive her.

In another complex case, a 72-year-old woman, after receiving an inheritance, was lured into a cryptocurrency investment scheme promising high returns. She provided personal details, set up a digital wallet, and transferred significant funds. The scheme involved a fake app showing fictitious profits, and subsequently, her credit card was used to purchase luxury vehicles worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. The perpetrators then erased all communication and the app.

Legal Aid emphasizes that these scams often exploit victims' shame and isolation, making them reluctant to report the incidents. A 2026 amendment to the Legal Aid Law provides free legal assistance to individuals over 65 facing exploitation, fraud, or theft due to cognitive difficulties or hardship. However, Legal Aid notes that criminal investigations into such cases are often closed as civil disputes, hindering justice for victims.