Abuse and falsification of documents to take-up 'disabled child' pensions due to autism: After a long investigation by National Insurance investigators together with the Jerusalem District Police, a fraud amounting to tens of millions of Shekels was uncovered concerning the take-up of 'disabled child' pensions due to autism.
This morning, in a raid by National Insurance investigators with the Fraud Unit of the Jerusalem District Police, a resident of southern Israel was arrested on suspicion that she had promoted, together with parents and children, a large-scale fraud, which included forging documents, false representations and fraudulently receiving millions of Shekels. It should be noted that some of the parents cooperated with the fraud and the investigation into the matter is ongoing.
From information accumulated by the National Insurance Investigations Division, suspicion arose of fraudulently receipt of payments for autism as 'disabled child' pension, and together with the Fraud Unit of the Jerusalem District Police, a comprehensive investigation was recently conducted on suspicion of fraud, forgery and scamming scheme.
According to the suspicion, the main suspect operated for an extended period within the framework of a private company she owned, in which she offered families "assistance" in submitting claims for disability pensions for their children on the grounds of autism.
The suspect, according to the suspicion, recruited parents who were aware that their children did not meet the conditions for receiving a pension, and submitted false applications on their behalf, forging medical documents, professional opinions, and forms allegedly signed by recognized professionals.
The investigation also revealed that the suspect took personal details and private passwords, which were transferred to her by the parents, and acted on their behalf by identifying herself in the National Insurance's computerized system, and submitted claims on behalf of the families, using forged documents and coordinating with other parties.
For each file she submitted, the suspect collected tens of thousands of Shekels from families who took an active part in the fraud, knowing that this was an illegal activity.
During the investigation, investigators from the National Insurance and the Fraud Unit of the Jerusalem District Police collected numerous testimonies and findings indicating the unlawful receipt of disability pensions, amounting to tens of millions of Shekels.
As the investigation progressed and suspicions were substantiated, the main suspect was arrested this morning along with several other people involved, including parents whose children were identified as having received benefits fraudulently.
During searches conducted this morning at the homes of those involved, documents, a large amount of money, and additional investigative materials related to the crimes attributed to them were seized.
The suspect and those involved were interrogated at the Jerusalem District Police offices on suspicion of crimes of scamming scheme under aggravated circumstances, forging a document with the intent to obtain advantages, using a forged document, fraud, and breach of trust. As mentioned, the investigation into the case is ongoing.
This is a serious case in which, according to suspicion, medical documents were forged and benefits were fraudulently taken for personal gain, while seriously harming public funds and trust in State institutions.
The National Insurance and the Israel Police view with great seriousness any attempt to defraud State authorities and harm public funds, and will continue to act decisively and with all the means at its disposal to expose all those involved and bring them to justice. In addition, the National Insurance will work to collect and return the funds that were fraudulently taken.