Russian Scam Gang Defrauds Elderly Israelis of Over One Million Shekels
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
An Eastern European gang defrauded elderly Israelis of Russian descent, stealing over one million shekels in cash and valuables by impersonating government officials and using stolen personal data. Oleg Pogosyan, a gang member, admitted involvement and is now charged and detained pending trial.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gang defrauded elderly Israelis of over one million shekels in cash and jewelry.
- Oleg Pogosyan admitted to deceiving seniors by posing as National Insurance agents.
- Gang used stolen personal data bought on the dark web to target victims.
- Victims were told to insure valuables due to missile attacks in Israeli cities.
- Stolen jewelry was sold to a Ramat Gan dealer for over half a million shekels.
- Prosecution charged Pogosyan with fraud and requested extended detention.
A criminal gang known as the "Russian Scam" has defrauded elderly Israeli citizens, primarily of Russian descent, stealing money and jewelry valued at over one million shekels. One gang member, Oleg Pogosyan, recently recounted to police how they impersonated National Insurance and Tax Authority representatives to deceive their victims. The gang used personal data purchased on the dark web, obtained through hacking government institutions, to target seniors.
Security footage shows Pogosyan visiting an elderly woman’s home, presenting himself as a National Insurance courier and receiving 82,000 shekels in cash after a staged phone call from a woman posing as the victim’s daughter. The gang convinced victims to hand over valuables by claiming they needed to insure their possessions due to recent missile attacks in Israeli cities.
Pogosyan and his accomplices sold the stolen jewelry to a dealer in Ramat Gan, netting over half a million shekels. Police investigator Sergeant Major Sergei Delgats described the gang’s actions as cynical, highlighting how they took heirloom jewelry with deep sentimental value from victims. Pogosyan admitted to some offenses, citing debts to the black market.
Last month, the prosecution filed charges against Pogosyan for fraud, impersonation, and aggravated deception, requesting his detention until the conclusion of legal proceedings. The investigation continues as authorities seek to dismantle the international fraud network based in Eastern Europe.
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