An undercover investigation conducted over the past several months went public on Sunday after a couple from Bat Yam were arrested on the suspicion of posing as insurance company representatives and defrauding at least 75 people.
According to police, most of Periel Ben-David and Sahar Shmuel Abutbul's victims are Arabs.
During the conversations, they provided victims with personal information before claiming that money owed to them was being held by the insurance company and that they could help them withdraw it.
In exchange for their services, the couple allegedly demanded a "fee" ranging from NIS 2,000 to NIS 5,000, and in some cases up to NIS 10,000.
The victims were then asked to provide a code allowing cash to be withdrawn from an ATM without a card. Police suspect the codes were used to withdraw the money, after which contact with the victims was cut off.
Ten phones seized, police searching for additional victims
During the search, police seized 10 different phones and believe that information stored on them could lead to the identification of additional victims beyond the 75 already linked to the case.
Ben-David is suspected of obtaining something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, impersonation with intent to defraud, conspiracy to commit a felony, invasion of privacy, and processing personal information from a database without authorization.
She is also suspected of possessing or using drugs not for personal consumption. Police suspect the couple acted together as part of the alleged fraud scheme.
Ben-David exercised her right to remain silent during questioning, a police representative said at the hearing. Her partner, Abutbul, denied the allegations against him during his initial questioning.
During the hearing, Ben-David's attorney raised allegations regarding the conduct of police officers at the time of her arrest.
According to the attorney, she was told that "if you cooperate, you'll get off lightly, you have children at home, we know about the six-month-old baby who recently underwent surgery at Wolfson."
The defense attorney then asked the police representative to explain why the statement had been made.
They asked for their client to be released to house arrest at her father's home, citing, among other factors, the baby's condition following the surgery. They also argued that Ben-David was not the person who went to the ATMs and physically withdrew the money.
Detention extended by nine days
Police, however, requested that her detention be extended by nine days.
Judge Zivon Alimi ruled that there was reasonable suspicion against Ben-David and that releasing her at this stage could interfere with the investigation.
At the conclusion of the hearings, the court ordered that the couple remain in custody until August 12.
Police are continuing to examine the seized material and determine whether there are additional victims. Ben-David's attorney is also expected to file an appeal with the Central District Court in Lod on Tuesday seeking her release.