A 41-year-old man from Afula was arrested by Israeli police on suspicion of running a large-scale travel fraud scheme targeting dozens of Chabad hasidim. The suspect allegedly posed as a travel agent and sold fake or non-existent flight tickets to individuals planning to travel to New York for the Tishrei holidays. Victims reported being stranded in various locations, including Athens and New York, or discovering at the airport that they had no valid reservations. Authorities have so far identified 69 victims and estimate the total losses to exceed four hundred thousand shekels. The suspect was apprehended at his apartment and brought before a magistrate's court as the investigation continues.

Original article source: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/416476
Source Id: 8916226021