The Shin Bet security agency announced on Monday it had uncovered an Iranian espionage network that worked to track down and recruit Israeli civilians for spy missions and prepare attacks on targets in Israel.
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The Iranian operatives used a fictitious Facebook profile called "Sara Puppi," who presented "herself" as a young Jewish woman with personal and business ties to Israel.
"This fictitious profile gathered thousands of friends over a very short time with most of them from Israel," Shin Bet said in a statement. After making contact with the would-be recruits, the operatives managing the profile moved the conversation to WhatsApp, the investigation found.
"The use of social media networks is a known technique among terror organizations and Iranian intelligence for recruiting and activating Israelis," the agency said.
Shin Bet officials said they had been monitoring the latest activity from its beginning.
"The Iranian operative asked those he was handling in Israel, without knowing that the Shin Bet was operating on the other side, for information on Israelis who are subjects of interest for Iranian intelligence," the statement said.
The handler also examined his would-be recruit's willingness to attack Israeli individuals, while exerting pressure and promising thousands of dollars for the attacks. He further utilized romantic and emotional manipulation as a part of his tactics, according to the Shin Bet.
The Iranian handler sent bitcoin currency and claimed the attacks were for revenge against people who owed him money, people in conflict with him, and a general desire to attack members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The operative also attempted to advertise statements that would harm Russian-Israeli relations, the investigation found, while gathering information on Arab diplomats and Arab companies operating in Israel.
Shin Bet called on Israelis "to exhibit awareness and caution in light of the threat posed by various terror elements on social media networks and to report any unusual approach to the Israel Police."
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.
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