Israeli Police Conclude Major Fraud Investigation Targeting Over 60 Victims

The Shefela District Police have concluded a large-scale investigation into a sophisticated fraud network operating out of Haifa, which defrauded over 60 Israeli citizens. The investigation culminated in a 120-page indictment against the alleged organizers, 30-year-old Khaled Abu Riya and 27-year-old Burak Manshiri. Authorities claim the duo purchased a large database of personal information on tens of thousands of Israelis in April 2026, including ID numbers, addresses, and bank details. They allegedly established an underground call center, employing operators to pose as representatives of major companies like Bezeq, Golan Telecom, and the Electric Company. These operators would inform victims they were due a refund, then trick them into revealing bank card details and verification codes. This code was used to hijack the victim's phone number, allowing the fraudsters to reroute calls and SMS verification codes to their own devices. The criminals then contacted Bank Leumi, impersonating customers to obtain codes for ATM withdrawals without physical cards. Couriers were used to cash out the stolen funds. An accomplice, 32-year-old Ahmed Khaled, who has prior convictions for robbery and weapons offenses, and the siblings of the main organizer were also involved. The group also engaged in phishing, sending mass messages from entities like Toll Road 6 and Pango, luring victims to fake websites to link stolen cards to digital wallets like Apple Pay. In one August incident, after promising an 800 shekel refund, fraudsters stole 14,000 shekels, linked cards to Apple Pay, and made 22 transactions totaling 105,000 shekels within 48 hours, purchasing goods on AliExpress and Farfetch, and acquiring cryptocurrency. The largest theft occurred in June 2026, when victims were told they overpaid for electricity. Their number was hijacked, and their bank account was accessed, leading to the sale of the victim's securities for over 1.5 million shekels. An attempt to transfer 638,000 shekels was blocked by the bank, but the fraudsters then opened three new credit cards in the victim's name with MAX and Isracard, withdrawing large sums throughout the summer. Police searches uncovered ledgers with personal data, cash, and numerous mobile phones. The evidence includes testimony from hired operators, bank security reports, and surveillance footage. Notably, Khaled Abu Riya allegedly organized the network while formally serving community service for employing illegal workers, while Manshiri had no prior criminal record. Both accused are currently in custody and deny the charges, blaming each other.