Post Bank Ordered to Pay 40,000 Shekels to Holocaust Survivor Scammed

A small claims court in Noah HaGalil has ordered the Post Bank to pay 40,000 shekels in compensation to an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor who was defrauded of her savings. The woman lost 49,000 shekels to scammers who posed as her son's doctors, claiming he had a severe brain condition and needed urgent funds. Over a period of six weeks between late 2024 and early 2025, she transferred large sums to the fraudsters, who instructed her to keep the matter secret, even from her son and daughter, who is her account's authorized representative.

The bank argued it acted within regulations, stating the transfers, though sent to Georgia, were of small amounts that did not warrant special scrutiny. They also claimed they were not obligated to inform the daughter. However, Judge Marat Dorfman ruled the bank was negligent. He highlighted that the unusual transactions, totaling tens of thousands of shekels, occurred frequently over six weeks and were a stark departure from the client's long-standing banking behavior.

The judge noted that these transactions were conducted in person with bank staff assistance. Given the client's age, vulnerability, and the nature, volume, and frequency of the transfers, bank employees should have suspected fraud, questioned her, and halted the international transfers pending clarification. The judge also stated that staff should have contacted the daughter directly rather than relying on standard notifications.

In addition to the compensation, the Post Bank must pay 1,000 shekels in legal costs.