Bat Yam Couple Arrested in Nationwide Insurance Fraud Scheme Targeting 97 Victims
Israeli police arrested a Bat Yam couple for allegedly running a nationwide insurance fraud scheme, swindling 97 victims out of 408,000 NIS over two years by posing as insurance agents.
Police in the Central District have uncovered a sophisticated insurance fraud scheme resulting in the arrest of a couple from Bat Yam, Priel Ben David and Sahar Abutbul, who allegedly swindled 97 victims out of approximately 408,000 NIS over two years. The investigation, led by the Central District Fraud Unit, began with just 20 complaints before expanding into a nationwide operation.
The Modus Operandi
The suspects targeted citizens, predominantly from the Arab sector, by impersonating representatives from major insurance firms such as Menora. Piel Ben David would contact victims, often under the alias "Meital" or "Avital," demonstrating precise knowledge of their personal insurance portfolios and pension funds.
"She speaks with immense self-confidence, projecting complete control over the victim's insurance portfolio without giving them a second to think or ask suspicious questions," noted Superintendent Lior Gercht, head of the Central District Fraud Unit.
The fraudsters convinced victims that they could prematurely withdraw funds from their provident or training funds without paying the statutory 35% tax, in exchange for an upfront fee of several thousand shekels. Once trust was established, the scammer instructed victims to generate an ATM cash withdrawal code and transmit it to them.
Investigation and Arrest
Investigators tracked the withdrawal patterns, utilizing ATM security footage that captured a tattooed suspect arriving on an electric scooter to withdraw the funds. Following coordinated cyber and signals intelligence operations, police arrested the couple at their Bat Yam home on August 9. Forensic examination of seized devices revealed the operation had been running since 2024, accumulating 97 distinct crime scenes handled by the unit.
Legal representatives for the defendants stated that the proceedings are in early stages and that they are reviewing the investigative materials as the court considers detention extensions.
