A worrying phenomenon in the wake of the economic crisis plaguing the middle class:
criminal organizations, which run dozens of businesses providing illegal financial services ("changers"), have turned them into "pirate banks" for loans to anyone, especially to people from the Arab public who do not meet In the criteria for obtaining an arranged mortgage.
"The change owners are taking advantage of the crisis and are simply dragging innocent and financially weak citizens to take out loans at interest rates that they will never be able to repay," a senior police officer told Israel Today.
Yesterday, the police marked the anniversary of Operation "Safe Track" to eradicate crime in Arab society.
At the same time, with the recent spate of homicides, police activity against dozens of "banquets" - financial service providers - reveals how criminal organizations are "exploiting the economic crisis for economic gain."
Since the beginning of the operation, the police, the tax authority, the capital market authority and the State Attorney's Office have worked with 33 such businesses in 19 different localities such as Rahat, Nazareth, Yafia, Araba, Shefar'am, Lakiya and more.
"The interest rate is very high in these changes," says the senior officer.
"The change owners, who are in fact banks for everything, take advantage of the fact that many in the Arab public do not meet the criterion of getting a decent mortgage, and simply drag them out to take out loans at interest rates that they do not meet.
"The interest usually supports the criminals," the officer adds.
"Behind dozens of businesses, which seem to be legitimate for providing financial services, are criminals."
According to the police officer, "Those who fail to repay the loans get into a situation that also leads them to face threats, arson and violence."
Five changelings were closed
Data obtained by Israel Today show that since the beginning of Operation Safe Track, 135 customers have been interrogated in the changelings against which the police acted on the Arab street.
44 of them were investigated with a warning, 731 checks worth NIS 28 million, and an additional NIS 24.2 million was obtained on suspicion of non-registration of receipt.
Commissioner Kobi Shabtai. Police are trying to fight the phenomenon, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
NIS 9.8 million in cash was seized due to a violation of the law reducing the use of cash.
The owners of the seized changers are suspected of money laundering, omission of income and more.
So far, five changelings have been closed by administrative order, criminal and administrative proceedings are still pending against the rest.
A law enforcement official warned of the phenomenon: "Once the arms and drug trafficking industry is pressured hard and rightly - criminals try to make a living from new crime channels.
In this case, those who pay the price are audiences of a normative public, who all want to take out a loan to buy a house, renovate an existing house or buy furniture. "
Meanwhile, yesterday, Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai held a special crime hearing, in which it was decided to increase the number of targets of a "safe route" by tens of percent.
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