New 'Sting': offer to pick up Kimcha Depischa - and disappear

The distribution of Kimcha Depischa charity was abused by crooks: A notice published in local newspapers in Beitar Illit and Jerusalem, offered a pickup service to those aided by distributions of Kimcha Depischa, since many families are making their Chag by gathering from a number of distributions at various sites, and collecting demands of the needy, who most often do not own a car, to hire a special shuttle towards the Yom Tov.

A service was offered in the ad: in return for 120 shekels, a reasonable and affordable price in relation to the Kimcha Depischa package, a few yeshiva students will collect the parcels, from Jerusalem or Betar Ilit, and bring them to the front door. What is needed from anyone interested in their services, is to deposit the sum and coupons for which one gets the Kimcha Depischa.

R' Zeev, a resident of Betar Illit, decided to order the service. So far he went to Jerusalem every Erev Pesach to collect the Kimcha Depischa, and was forced to book a ride from Jerusalem to Betar, that apart from the physical hassle of carrying boxes and bags.

"I called the phone number published," says Rabbi Ze'ev to Behadrey Haredim, "and asked the guy who answered the line, to report to me who had been assisted to date by his services, from our city. The reason for the clarification was simple. I wanted to make sure that I'm not being cheated. The latter, who presented himself as Friedman, referred me to a number of portable of an avrech called Kornblit, who lives in Beitar. I didn't know Kornblit, but I made contact with him and he told me that 'Friedman' is a reliable and honest guy, and has been used in several years collecting the yearly 'Kimcha'.

"The speaker seemed sincere and convincing. I returned to Friedman, and he sent me one of his friends, who took the coupons from me as well as a photo of my ID required for getting products in addition to coupons. The 'order' had been carried out in the morning. The distribution was throughout yesterday until the night. I waited long to mid-night to get the Kimcha, but in vain. I tried to make contact numerous times with Friedman, but I got to a voicemail and he disappeared from the horizon.

"Attempts to locate the abovementioned 'Kornblit also failed. Here too I got to a voicemail. Well this morning I tried my luck one again, but it turns out that this is a bunch of crooks, who coordinated with each other the edge and I fell victim to their actions. Conversations I've made a number of avreichim, informed me that these were able to deceive and ensnare many people, and that this new method aims to exploit the plight of the people before Pesach. Probably, I will have to go buy the products I relied on for the Chag on my own this time," concludes R' Zeev sadly.

So far it is known that at least 60 families in Beitar Illit and Jerusalem got 'stung'.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!