What’s happening:
The Israeli internal security service, Shin Bet, has uncovered a sophisticated Hamas espionage operation using fake Facebook profiles to recruit unsuspecting Israelis for tasks that potentially involve terror activities.
Why it matters:
This revelation highlights the continued threats facing Israel from organized terrorist groups aiming to infiltrate and harm Israeli society. By thwarting this plot, Shin Bet has potentially prevented terror attacks on Israeli soil, reinforcing the importance of cybersecurity vigilance among civilians.
By the numbers:
Dozens of fake accounts and multiple targeted individuals comprise this Hamas facade, designed to manipulate ordinary Israelis into unknowingly scout for terror attack logistics.
The method:
Hamas operatives create convincing profiles, posing as successful Israelis abroad or friendly faces searching for help with delivery and logistical support, seeking to covertly prepare Israelis to unknowingly assist in transferring explosives or weapons.
Key players:
Profiles like “Yuval Rosenfeld,” a fictitious CMO, and “Lilit Weitzman,” an alleged CEO, were among the avatars connected in trying to lure Israeli citizens into their ruse — both belonging to a dummy company and offering attractive job opportunities.
Behind the scenes:
Interactions were carefully restricted to Facebook and WhatsApp messages, avoiding voice contact to prevent exposure. The sophisticated ruse included conversational Hebrew greetings, job listings with competitive pay, and culturally relevant well-wishes to manufacture trustworthy personas within the Israeli community.
The bigger picture:
The discovery suggests a broad network with objectives not just to gather intelligence but to facilitate outright harm. Synagogues, private residences, and various public spots were marked by Shin Bet as likely standoff points for transporting illicit materials intended for terror attacks.
Between the lines:
Shin Bet’s identification of this scheme underscores an alarming and novel approach by terror groups to weaponize social platforms against Israel, exploiting the openness and trust inherent to social interactions online.
This story was first published on ynetnews.com.