11/6/2026
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division
The following communiqué was issued:
As part of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the Internal Security Forces to combat various types of crime throughout Lebanon, particularly cybercrime and online fraud, a woman filed a complaint on 10-04-2026 before the Barouk Police Station of the Regional Gendarmerie Unit against a person identified as (A. T.), whose full identity remains unknown, for fraud and deception committed through a money transfer application. Pursuant to the instructions of the competent judicial authority, the investigation was referred on 22-04-2026 to the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau of the Judicial Police Unit.
During her testimony at the Bureau’s headquarters, the complainant stated that, since the outbreak of the recent war, she had been actively involved with a number of friends working in the humanitarian and social sectors in organizing donation campaigns for displaced persons and affected families, with the aim of providing medicines, food supplies, infant formula, and diapers. She explained that she had published her phone number in WhatsApp groups to receive financial transfers through a money transfer company and had indeed begun receiving donations from various contributors.
She further stated that on 09-04-2026 she received a phone call from a person identifying himself as (A. T.), claiming to be a representative of the money transfer company she dealt with. He falsely informed her that her account had exceeded the permitted limit and that several financial transfers were pending as a result, offering to assist her in resolving the issue.
As she was expecting a money transfer from a relative living abroad, she believed his claims and began following his instructions. To verify that her account was still operational, she transferred a sum of money to her son’s account. After the transaction succeeded, he asked her to provide the verification code she had received through the company’s mobile application.
He then falsely claimed that USD 5,000 had been withdrawn from the account due to the alleged problem and later requested another verification code that had been sent to her son’s phone, under the pretext of fixing the issue and reorganizing the account.
After she provided the second code, she discovered that the funds had disappeared from the account. When she confronted him, he openly admitted that he had taken the money, claiming that she would recover it later together with the pending transfer. At that point, she realized that she had fallen victim to an online fraud scheme.
Through technical and digital investigations, Bureau personnel succeeded in tracing the path of the funds withdrawn from the complainant’s account. It was determined that the money had been transferred to an account associated with a digital trading company. After contacting the company, the Bureau requested that the amount be frozen.
As a result of the follow-up investigation, on 28-04-2026, the company’s legal representative appeared at the Bureau’s offices and handed over the full amount to the investigators.
The entire amount was subsequently returned to the complainant. Investigations remain ongoing, under the supervision of the competent judicial authority, to identify and arrest all those involved.
Warning:
The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces urges citizens and residents alike to exercise caution against various fraud schemes and not to send any official documents, financial information, verification codes, or copies thereof to any suspicious or untrusted party, in order to avoid becoming victims of fraudsters.
General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: Several news websites and social media platforms circulated a report yesterday, 5 November 2026, claiming that six robbery incidents had taken place in the heart of Beirut within a period of 45 minutes. The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces wishes to clarify that this report is inaccurate and exaggerated. In fact, only one robbery took place yesterday around midday, in the Tariq El Jdideh area. In this regard, at 4:00 a.m. on 5 November 2026, a patrol from the Beirut Investigation Unit managed to apprehend two individuals caught in the act while riding a motorcycle without a registration plate in the Ashrafieh area, along Pierre Gemayel Avenue, for having committed a robbery in the area. It was established that both individuals had previous records for similar offences. They are: H. H. (born in 2002, Lebanese) A. D. (born in 2006, Palestinian) The following items were seized in their possession: A white GR motorcycle without registration or vehicle documents. A quantity of cannabis (hashish) inside a shoulder bag. The two detainees were handed over to the relevant police station for the necessary legal procedures to be taken against them. The investigation is ongoing under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities. The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces calls upon all media outlets and news websites to refrain from rushing to publish any information before verifying its accuracy, and to avoid exaggerating news reports that could negatively affect the overall situation in the country. It also urges citizens not to circulate such unverified reports, as they create confusion and spread fear among the public.
6/11/2026
General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: As part of the ongoing efforts undertaken by the units of the Internal Security Forces to combat all types of crime and apprehend those responsible, patrols from the Mount Lebanon Investigation Unit, under the Regional Gendarmerie Unit, managed to arrest five individuals considered among the most dangerous suspects in armed robbery, theft and pickpocketing, within a period of 24 hours. The arrests took place in various locations across the Mount Lebanon and Beirut Governorates. The individuals arrested are as follows: M. M. (born in 1994, Lebanese): Arrested in the Roueiss area, in Beirut's southern suburbs. He is suspected of stealing motorcycles from various areas in the southern suburbs and selling them inside Bourj el-Barajneh Camp. Video footage documenting his alleged criminal activities is available. W. M. (born in 1998, Lebanese): Wanted by the judiciary under an arrest warrant on charges of theft. He was arrested in the Haret El Naameh area. H. H. (born in 2004, of undetermined nationality): Subject to an arrest warrant on charges of motorcycle theft. He was arrested in the Sabra / Al-Harsh area. Y. K. (born in 1999, Lebanese): Suspected of carrying out motorcycle robberies in the Costa Brava area. He is wanted under an arrest warrant for motorcycle theft. He was arrested in the Sabra / Al-Harsh area. H. Sh. D. (born in 2004, Lebanese): Arrested in Wadi Chahrour following an exchange of gunfire with members of the patrol, during which he sustained injuries to his hand and leg. He was transferred to hospital for medical treatment, and his health condition is stable. The detainees were handed over to the relevant units to take the necessary legal measures against them, in accordance with the instructions of the competent judicial authorities.
6/11/2026
General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement was issued: On 5 November 2026, in the Bir Hassan area, two unidentified individuals assaulted a citizen and stole his motorcycle, inside the seat of which was USD 500,000, in addition to his pistol and mobile phone. The perpetrators then fled to an unknown destination. Following the incident, the specialized units of the Internal Security Forces launched field and intelligence operations to identify and apprehend the two perpetrators. As a result of investigations and inquiries, the Information Division managed to identify one of the suspects, namely: A. M. (born in 1998, Lebanese). Following careful surveillance and monitoring, a patrol from the Division managed to arrest him on 6 November 2026, in the Khaldeh area, and seized the stolen pistol in his possession. During questioning, he confessed to participating in the robbery with another individual. He also admitted that they had deposited part of the stolen money with several individuals and used the remaining portion to purchase a car. The Division managed to recover a substantial portion of the stolen amount. The necessary legal procedures were taken against the detainee. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the second individual involved, under the supervision of the competent judicial authorities.
6/11/2026
The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division – issued the following statement: Infrastructure repair works in the Medawar area – Achrafieh A contractor company has commenced infrastructure repair works in the Medawar area of Achrafieh, in front of Baqlian Mills. The works will continue until 5:00 p.m. today, 5 November 2026. These works will require the closure of traffic at the specified location, with vehicles diverted behind the aforementioned mills towards Al-Bourj Company, until the completion of the works. Installation of reflective road studs in the Geitawi area A contractor company will install reflective road studs (cat’s eyes) in the Geitawi area, along the road extending from Saint George Hospital (Hôpital des Sœurs du Rosaire) to the end of the road section at Geitawi Hospital, followed by a stretch of 100 metres to the right and 30 metres to the left. The works will take place from 5 November 2026 until 30 November 2026, Monday through Saturday, from 6:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day. On Sundays, however, the works will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m. on the same day. Please note that these works will not result in traffic closures or any reduction in the available road width. Citizens are kindly requested to take note of these measures and comply with the instructions and guidance of Internal Security Forces personnel, as well as the posted traffic signs, in order to facilitate traffic flow.
5/11/2026
