Until now, only a violation affecting a large number of consumers was considered an aggravated violation under the Consumer Protection Law. But as of today, after MK Merav Cohen's proposed Consumer Protection Law (Amendment of Violation in Aggravated Circumstances) passed its second and third readings, even a violation committed against citizens from special populations will be considered a violation under aggravating circumstances. The law includes the exploitation of a senior citizen, a new immigrant, a person with a disability, or anyone who does not have sufficient command of the language to enter into a transaction.
The amendment will change the definitions so that, in practice, any act of oppression of vulnerable populations will constitute such an offense. This will allow law enforcement and judicial authorities to impose substantial fines on fraudsters, and even heavier penalties.
Initiator of the proposal. MK Merav Cohen, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
As reported two months ago in Israel Hayom, the definition will allow law enforcement authorities to impose harsher penalties on perpetrators of the offense (1.5 times the sanction for the regular offense). In addition, the law establishes a new particularly severe level of heavy financial fines in cases of oppression, which will amount to NIS 69,38 if a certain corporation causes oppression and NIS <>,<> if it involves a single person.
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MK Merav Cohen: "Even before I entered politics, we waged an all-out war against crooks who exploit the elderly. When I became active in the government and the Knesset, I promoted a series of measures aimed at creating deterrence against crooks. As a minister, I passed a precedent-setting government decision on the subject, we established the "Don't Call Me" database, and as a Knesset member I continue to promote legislation that increases penalties for fraudsters. We will not let go until this difficult and ugly phenomenon is eradicated. Our adults deserve to grow old with dignity in their country, and we will not allow criminals to turn them into easy prey and take advantage of them."
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