Israel’s internal security service, the Shin Bet, claimed to have uncovered an Iranian spy operation targeting Israeli academics and former defense officials, it said. the israeli daily Ha’Aretz.
“Iranians have contacted Israelis posing as academics, journalists, businessmen and philanthropists. They used the identities of real people living abroad who were unaware that their names were being spoofed.” says the newspaper, citing the Shin Bet.
Initial contact was made via email using an address similar to someone known to the target, plus or minus a letter or punctuation mark.
“Once contact was established, the target was invited to start a conversation on WhatsApp […] with the aim of convincing her to travel abroad and kidnap her”, adds the Israeli security agency.
Iranian plot
“However, the Israelis who were approached were suspicious […] and warned WhatsApp security officials,” indicates the agency.
Earlier this month, the Shin Bet announced that it had foiled an Iranian plot to recruit Israelis to gather intelligence and carry out terrorist attacks using fake WhatsApp and Facebook accounts.
According to the agency, the operation was discovered at the very beginning.
The announcements come amid Iran and Israel’s proxy war and mutual accusations of espionage. Tehran announced on Sunday the assassination of a senior Revolutionary Guards officer, Sayad Khodaï, in the east of the capital, accusing Israel of being behind the assassination and promising to avenge the death of this person in charge.
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