Jerusalem, 30 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli police are conducting overt and covert investigations into a wave of fraud and violence in Ashdod’s Haredi neighborhoods, mainly Districts Gimel and Zein.
The activity has reportedly expanded in recent days, with teenagers allegedly acting as couriers for a larger criminal network. The suspects enter businesses, buy goods with counterfeit bills and receive genuine cash as change.
In some cases, business owners who detected the fraud and confronted the teenagers have reportedly faced serious physical violence.
Police are working to identify those directing the scheme and are investigating whether criminal networks are exploiting minors with promises of easy money.
Business owners are urged to carefully check banknotes for security features, including paper texture, watermarks, security threads and color-changing ink. Anyone spotting a suspected counterfeit should avoid confrontation, immediately call police at 100, and preserve security-camera footage to help identify suspects.