A resident of the center of the country is suspected of impersonating an employee of Bituach Leumi, the National Insurance Agency, and defrauding elderly citizens. Police began investigating complaints received from a number of residents of Ashdod.

During recent weeks, police received complaints from a number of Russian-speaking elderly residents of Ashdod, explaining the man came to his house and presented himself as a Bituach Leumi official. Using various tactics, he obtained their credit card information, and in some cases their PIN number too.

It was also noticed that after he took leave of his victims, he had taken some items from them as well. Investigators report the suspect has already used the credit cards of the victims to the tune of NIS hundreds.

Police explain the investigation is in its early stage, citing the suspect appears to have taken advantage of the naivete of his elderly victims.

The suspect, a 44-year-old Yavne resident, was arrested on Monday and arraigned, with the court extending his detention.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)