Residents of Bnei Brak who invested in another get rich quick scheme are now licking their wounds, seeking to learn of the whereabouts of a Bnei Brak resident who made off with their money. The person owns a number of stores around the world, including the Shirat HaYayin wine store in Betar Illit.

As was reported by YWN-Israel on Wednesday, millions of dollars of investor funds were lost in the latest financial scam involving a member of the chareidi community, this time a man by the name Moshe Zussman from Bnei Brak, in his late 20s or early 30s.

Kikar Shabbos reports that Zussman fled the country, together with his family. Zussman was known as one who invests in foreign currencies. Many of his investors were businessmen, dealing in large sums, more than originally estimated, now believed to be tens of millions of dollars that have been embezzled from investors. One estimate quotes a sum of $50 million.

There are also reports that a number of prominent attorneys have left Israel to meet with Zussman, to advise him how to proceed.

It should be pointed out that while the situation appears less than encouraging for investors, all reports are based on statements from one side, without any response or explanation from people representing Zussman, who is believed to be somewhere in Europe.

Zussman is from a prominent Bnei Brak family. Relatives state he is not one who handles large sums of money to the best of their knowledge, adding he is “straight as an arrow”. They reject accusations that he admitted wrongdoing to investors, explaining he traveled to Europe to address a business dispute with investors.

The worried investors however do not necessarily agree with this assessment.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)