Police from the Petah Tikva station in Israel’s Central District arrested a woman in her 20s on Sunday on suspicion of posing as a man and maintaining romantic and sexual relationships with five women over the years through phone calls and online platforms. Several laptops and a cellphone were seized during a raid on her home.
According to police sources, the investigation was opened at the Petah Tikva station two weeks ago after complaints were filed by four women. Each told police that in recent years she had maintained a long-term romantic and sexual relationship with the suspect, who allegedly presented herself as a man.
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The relationships were conducted primarily through phone calls and online, according to the allegations, with the women believing throughout the relationships that they were involved with a man. At some point, the complainants discovered that the person behind the identity presented to them was in fact a woman.
Investigators at the Petah Tikva station opened an investigation immediately after receiving the complaints. Through a range of investigative measures, police located another complainant, bringing to five the number of women currently known to police who were allegedly targeted in a similar manner.
On Sunday, as the investigation became public, officers raided the suspect’s apartment in Petah Tikva, arrested her and searched the home. Police seized laptops, a cellphone and several digital storage devices, which will be examined as part of the investigation.
The suspect is expected to appear in court Monday, where police will seek an extension of her detention based on the needs of the investigation. Police also plan to ask the court for permission to publish her name in an effort to allow any additional alleged victims to identify her and contact authorities.
“The Israel Police calls on the public to remain vigilant when forming relationships online and will continue to act determinedly to uncover offenses committed through the exploitation of the internet and false identities, protect victims of crime and bring those involved to justice,” police said in a statement.