Israeli Local Authorities Warn Millions of SMS Payment Scams

Israel's Center for Local Government issued an unusual warning on Monday to millions of Israelis regarding widespread scams distributed via SMS and digital messages. These fraudulent messages impersonate local authorities and demand payment for municipal services like Arnona (property tax), levies, water bills, and other city fees, often including a suspicious link.

In recent weeks, residents in various municipalities have reported receiving these deceptive messages. Clicking the provided link and entering credit card details could lead to identity theft and unauthorized charges. The authorities strongly advise citizens against paying through links received in such messages.

Instead, residents are urged to independently access their local authority's official website or their personal online account to check for any outstanding payments. They should never provide credit card or personal information via a message link without first verifying it's an official payment channel.

For users of the MuniBox digital wallet, open payments and past transactions can be viewed within the PayBox app, allowing direct payment without needing a link from a message. If there is any doubt about a payment notification, residents should refrain from clicking the link and instead check payment details through the authority's official channels.