Online Scams & Fraud in Israel
As Israel continues to embrace the advantages of the internet and digital technology, malicious actors have adapted their tactics to exploit unsuspecting victims for personal gain. Shockingly, despite the rising incidence of cyber crimes, a mere 9% of those affected choose to report these offenses to the police.
This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, education, and law enforcement efforts to combat online scams and fraud in Israel. In this article, we will delve into how to check for scams in the country and shed light on where you can report and get help.
Scam Statistics in Israel
The key statistics on online fraud in Israel, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Population | 8.8 million | 8.9 million | 9.2 million | 9.3 million |
| Internet Penetration | 88.6% | 89.8% | 91.4% | 92.3% |
| # of Scams | 8,377 | 210,600 | ||
| Scams / 1,000 | 0.9 | 22.43 | ||
| Money Lost | ||||
| Money Lost / Capita | ||||
| Money Lost / Report |
The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.
Where Can I Report a Scam in Israel?
- The Police National Cyber Crime Unit (Lahav 433) - As they investigate all criminal offenses, you can report all online scams and fraud to them.
- National Cyber Bureau- You can report any cyber incident here as they are a part of the Prime Minister's Office and is responsible for all aspects of cyber defense in the civilian sphere.
- The Cybercrime Department in the Israeli State Attorney's Office- You can also report any online scam and fraud here.
- Privacy Protection Agency- As the name suggests, you can report any database-related scams here.
- Israel National Cyber Directorate- They are part of the Computer Emergency Response Center (CERT) for cyber incident handling and you can report any scam through hotline 119.
How to Report a Scam in Israel
Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.
- Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other relevant information. This is needed to file a complete report.
- Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
- Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
- Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.
Scam Victim Support in Israel
We are unaware of any scam victim support group in Israel.
How to Check for a Scam in Israel
Of course, you can always check for scams on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.
- The Israel Securities Authority- You can always check here for financial or investment scams as they oversee a broad array of activities in the capital market.
- The Israel Consumer Council- Check here for consumer-related issues and fraud as they are in charge of consumer protection.
Scam News From Israel
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