Israel Warned of New Scams Targeting Russian-Speaking Elderly

Russian-speaking seniors in Israel are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated scams, with fraudsters exploiting their trust and employing tactics of intimidation and shame, according to a Ynet report. The perpetrators often target elderly individuals, particularly those from the Russian-speaking community, pressuring them to remain silent about the incidents.

One victim, Irina Ponomareva, sought a small loan but was instead defrauded into taking out a credit line and purchasing a car in her name, despite never having driven or possessed a driver's license. In another case, a scammer impersonated a grandchild, convincing an elderly woman to hand over 50,000 shekels to a courier. A third victim lost all her savings after being lured by promises of cryptocurrency investment profits.

The report highlights a particularly distressing case where an elderly woman, who had trusted her acupuncturist for years, was allegedly intimidated into selling her home and transferring her savings to the practitioner. The woman described feeling "like a zombie" and being told she would die without purchasing expensive "golden needles," ultimately leaving her homeless and without funds for medication.

Police are reportedly not always initiating investigations, even when suspects are identified. The article also references previous reports of scammers using AI to mimic voices for phone scams, demanding money under false pretenses such as emergencies or accidents.