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He then falsely claimed that USD 5,000 had been withdrawn from the account due to the alleged problem and later requested another verification code that had been sent to her son’s phone, under the pretext of fixing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.
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement: As part of the Internal Security Forces' ongoing efforts to combat all forms of crime and apprehend offenders throughout Lebanon, the Mount Lebanon Intelligence Unit of the Regional Gendarmerie obtained information regarding an individual involved in the theft and armed robbery of motorcycles in the Al-Rihab area. Following investigations and intelligence-gathering efforts, a patrol from the unit arrested the suspect in the same area. He was identified as: A. G. (born in 2009, Syrian national). During questioning, he confessed to committing more than ten motorcycle robberies in various areas of Beirut and Mount Lebanon. He was referred to the competent authority for the necessary legal proceedings in accordance with the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
16/7/2026
As part of the ongoing cooperation between the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces, the European Union, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union Ambassador to Lebanon, Ms. Sandra De Waele, and the UNDP Resident Representative in Lebanon, Ms. Blerta Aliko, visited the Antelias Police Station on July 15, 2026, in the presence of the Commander of the Regional Gendarmerie Unit, Brigadier Jean Aouad. During the visit, they reviewed the rehabilitation works carried out at the station, one of three police stations being upgraded under a project funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP to strengthen the infrastructure and operational capabilities of the Internal Security Forces. On this occasion, several vehicles and a water tanker were also handed over to the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces to support its missions, particularly in southern Lebanon. This support is part of a project valued at more than US$3 million, which also aims to strengthen cooperation between the Internal Security Forces, municipalities, and local communities by supporting community policing initiatives. The project seeks to improve the security response, reinforce state institutions, and enhance security, stability, and Lebanon's sustainable recovery process.
15/7/2026
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement: As part of the Internal Security Forces' daily efforts to combat drug trafficking and apprehend wanted persons throughout Lebanon, the Mount Lebanon Intelligence Unit of the Regional Gendarmerie received information regarding an individual who was distributing narcotics while riding a GR motorcycle in the Sahraa Choueifat area. The unit immediately launched surveillance and monitoring operations and carried out a carefully planned ambush in the area, resulting in the arrest of the suspect, identified as: A. A. (born in 2001, Lebanese, according to his statements). A search led to the seizure of: 28 small packets containing narcotic substances bearing the "Coffee" logo. 31 small packets containing the substance known as "baz", bearing the "Bear" logo. One small packet containing a narcotic substance bearing the "Crown" logo. Two imitation handguns with their magazines, unloaded. An amount of cash in Lebanese pounds and U.S. dollars. A mobile phone. A GR motorcycle with no registration plate. The suspect, along with the seized items and the motorcycle, was referred to the competent unit for the necessary legal proceedings in accordance with the instructions of the competent judicial authority.
15/7/2026
Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division The following statement: The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces warns the public about fraudulent SMS messages currently circulating that impersonate a money transfer company. The messages, written in English, falsely claim that the recipient has an outstanding traffic violation (such as speeding or illegal parking) and request payment through a link bearing the company's name. The General Directorate emphasizes that both the messages and the accompanying link are fraudulent and are intended to steal citizens' personal and banking information. Accordingly, the Directorate urges the public to: Do not click on the links contained in these messages. Do not enter any personal, financial, or bank card information. Do not forward or share these messages. Verify any request for payment or services directly with the relevant organization through its official communication channels only. The General Directorate also urges citizens to report any attempted online fraud or suspicious messages through the "Balligh" platform available on the Internal Security Forces' official website or to the competent judicial authorities, in order to assist in identifying those responsible and protecting the public from these fraudulent schemes.
15/7/2026
