Israeli Woman Arrested for Posing as Man in Online Romantic Scams Targeting Multiple Women

A woman in her twenties was arrested in Petah Tikva on suspicion of impersonating a man and maintaining romantic and sexual relationships with several women over several years. The investigation began on July 26, 2026, at the Petah Tikva police station after four women filed complaints stating that the suspect had deceived them into believing they were in relationships with a man, primarily through phone calls and online communication. The women discovered the suspect was actually a woman only after some time.

Police investigations uncovered a fifth victim with a similar experience. Following the transition to the public phase of the investigation, officers raided the suspect's apartment in Petah Tikva, seized laptops, a mobile phone, and digital storage devices, and arrested her. The suspect is expected to appear in court the next day for a detention extension hearing. Authorities also plan to request permission to publish her name to help identify additional victims.

The Israeli police urged the public to exercise caution when forming online relationships and emphasized their commitment to exposing crimes involving online impersonation and protecting victims. They vowed to continue pursuing legal action against those involved in such offenses.