Two Men Rob Woman of Nearly 23,000 She Withdrew After Telegram Loan Scam in Kiryat Gat

A 22-year-old woman in Kiryat Gat fell victim to a violent robbery after responding to a loan offer on Telegram. The woman was instructed by a person posing as a lender to withdraw 24,000 shekels from a bank account, which prosecutors allege was fraudulently transferred from another person's account. Following these instructions, she withdrew approximately 22,800 shekels from a Bank Leumi ATM in Kiryat Gat.

Two suspects, Aviv Hadad (22) from Rosh HaAyin and Yair Shimon Zamor (20) from Elad, ambushed her immediately after the withdrawal. Zamor entered the bank to monitor the victim and communicated with Hadad, who waited outside in a getaway car. When the woman refused to hand over the money without confirming the identity of the men via Telegram, Hadad forcibly reached into her pocket and took the cash despite her resistance. The suspects then fled the scene and divided the stolen money.

The police located Hadad the next day in Yehud-Monosson. He attempted to escape in his vehicle, driving recklessly and violating traffic laws before abandoning the car and engaging in a tense foot chase with officers. Hadad was arrested, while Zamor remains at large.

The Southern District Prosecutor's Office has filed two serious indictments against the suspects in the Beersheba District Court. Hadad faces charges including aggravated robbery, obstruction of police, driving while disqualified, and using a vehicle to commit a crime. Zamor is charged with aggravated robbery. The case was investigated by Kiryat Gat police.

This incident highlights the dangers of online loan scams that can escalate into violent crimes, with law enforcement actively pursuing suspects involved in such schemes.