Scam Alert: Fake Payment Demands Sent to Contractors in Central Israel
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
The Zmora Regional Planning and Building Commission in central Israel warned developers about fake payment demands for millions of shekels. The fraudulent invoices used forged emails and non-commission bank accounts. The commission stressed that official demands are only sent via a specific system or in person, urging recipients to verify authenticity before payment to avoid financial damage.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Zmora Regional Planning and Building Commission warned of fake payment demands targeting developers.
- Scammers sent fraudulent invoices for millions of shekels to contractors.
- The fake demands used forged emails, a fake employee name, and incorrect bank details.
- The commission stated official demands are only issued through the 'Rivuii Zamin' system or in person.
- Recipients are urged to verify demands before making payments to prevent financial loss.
The Zmora Regional Planning and Building Commission, responsible for the towns of Mazkeret Batya, Kiryat Ekron, and Be'er Ya'akov, has issued a warning to developers and permit applicants following a series of suspected fraudulent payment demands. Numerous contractors reportedly received what appeared to be official invoices for millions of shekels, but upon closer inspection, these were revealed to be elaborate fakes. The scam involved forged email addresses, a non-existent employee's name, and bank account details that did not belong to the commission. Developers only realized the deception after questioning the legitimacy of the demands and contacting the commission directly. The commission emphasized that official building permit fee demands are exclusively issued through the "Rivuii Zamin" system or delivered in person at their offices, and are never sent directly via email. They urged the public, especially developers and architects, to exercise vigilance and verify the authenticity of any payment requests before transferring funds. The commission noted that this incident is part of a broader trend of impersonation attempts targeting planning committees and local authorities across Israel, and advised anyone receiving suspicious demands to refrain from payment and contact the commission directly for verification to prevent significant financial losses.
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