Israeli Woman Investigated for Weapon Trafficking After Buying SIM Card for Travel

A 53-year-old woman from Hadera, Israel, purchased a Global SIM card from Pelephone in October for internet use during a trip to Germany. About six weeks after returning, a police investigator from Tamra visited her home, alleging that the phone number linked to her SIM card was used by criminals for extortion and weapons trafficking. She was questioned for two hours and handed over the SIM card for forensic examination.

Despite her cooperation, the woman later discovered that the criminal case against her remained open and visible in her personal government portal account. She expressed concern that this unresolved investigation could harm her professional standing, as her job requires access to the Israeli Tax Authority. She also claimed Pelephone and the Ministry of Communications denied responsibility and dismissed her complaints.

The woman, who immigrated from Ukraine 36 years ago and works in an accounting office, insisted she only used the SIM for internet and did not make calls. She suspects someone else used the same number for criminal activities. Pelephone responded that their investigation found no unusual activity on her number and suggested the incident was likely related to phishing. They confirmed she would be cleared of any wrongdoing.

The case highlights issues of identity and number misuse, as well as the challenges customers face when trying to resolve such disputes with telecom providers and government agencies. The woman continues to seek closure and accountability for the ongoing open case linked to her name.