The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division issued the following statement: On 20-04-2026, a complaint was referred to the Beirut Judicial Detachment of the Judicial Police Unit against a person claiming to be named “Mohammad Makhlouf” and other unidentified individuals for forming a fraud and scam network. During questioning, the complainant stated that he manages a project consisting of residential apartments, offices, and halls designated for rent, and that he had published advertisements about the project on several social media platforms. He added that on 16-04-2026, he received a call via WhatsApp from a foreign number. The caller introduced himself as “Mohammad Makhlouf,” claiming to be related to the former Syrian president and stating that he was in the process of establishing a company in Lebanon. He said that an advertisement published on the “X” platform had caught his attention and expressed interest in investing in offices, showing readiness to pay rent for a period of nine years, in addition to his intention to purchase a property. The complainant offered him a property adjacent to his project valued at USD 35 million. The suspect proposed handing over the money in Dubai or transferring it to Britain, before they eventually agreed that he would come to Lebanon to complete the payment process. On 18-04-2026, after gaining the complainant’s trust, the suspect asked him to receive two Rolex watches and four mobile phones, claiming they were gifts for businessmen he would meet in Lebanon and confirming that he had already paid for them. The complainant received these counterfeit items in two batches in the Verdun area and paid cash amounts and money transfers totaling USD 7,500, based on requests from several individuals who contacted him via WhatsApp using the names of different companies. It was also found that the delivery worker had deceived him into paying additional amounts as fees before fleeing to an unknown destination. On 19-04-2026, the caller informed him that he had arrived in Lebanon and, due to the ongoing war, had been forced to stay in Harissa. He asked the complainant to send 17 mobile recharge cards to continue his online stock market activities, with the promise that they would meet on 20-04-2026 during lunch at a restaurant in Downtown Beirut, which he claimed to have booked in advance. However, he did not appear at the agreed time and disappeared, revealing that the complainant had fallen victim to a sophisticated fraud operation carried out by an organized gang. As a result of the investigations conducted by the above-mentioned detachment, the identities of the gang members were uncovered as follows: T.B. (born in 1981, Lebanese) K.K. (born in 2000, Lebanese) A.H. (born in 1983, Lebanese) A.M. (born in 2000, Lebanese female) A.A.R. (born in 1984, Palestinian-Syrian) During interrogation, A.H. denied involvement in the fraud operation and stated that, at the request of T.B., he had deposited USD 3,100 with one of his relatives. Meanwhile, A.M. confessed that she had worked with T.B. in fraud operations. A.A.R. also admitted that he had received USD 3,400 at the request of A.K. The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and search and investigation notices were circulated against several individuals involved, while efforts continue to arrest the remaining gang members.

13/5/2026

Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division, the following statement: As part of the continuous efforts undertaken by the Internal Security Forces to combat all forms of crime across various Lebanese regions, especially theft-related crimes and the arrest of perpetrators, on 17-04-2026, a patrol from the Beirut Investigation Unit of the Beirut Police succeeded in arresting a person caught in the act while stealing a backpack belonging to one of the displaced persons inside a shelter center in Ard Jalloul. He was identified as: M.A. (born in 2001, Lebanese), wanted under a search and investigation notice for fraud. Upon searching the stolen bag, the following items were found: USD 5,470 in cash LBP 1,600,000 in cash 3.25 gold liras One gold ounce and six assorted gold jewelry items. The bag was returned to its owner, and the detainee, along with the seized items, was referred to the competent authority to complete the necessary legal procedures based on the instructions of the competent judiciary.

13/5/2026

Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division, the following statement: On 05-05-2026, a patrol from the Information Branch of the Internal Security Forces arrested the following individuals: M.H.H. (born in 1995, Syrian national) N.S. (born in 1973, Syrian national) W.I. (born in 1983, of undocumented status), according to her statements for stealing money and jewelry through fraudulent methods. They were referred to the Chhim Police Station in the Regional Gendarmerie Unit and subsequently to the Beiteddine Judicial Detachment in the Judicial Police Unit. As investigations expanded by the aforementioned detachment, it was revealed that one of the women distracted the victim while another carried out the theft operation. They were also found to be involved in forming a gang and carrying out several theft operations in different areas. The necessary legal measures were taken against them, and they were referred to the competent judicial authority. Therefore, based on the instructions of the competent judiciary, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces circulates the photos of the detainees and requests anyone who has fallen victim to their acts and recognizes them to report to the Beiteddine Judicial Detachment in the Judicial Police Unit, or contact either of the following numbers: 25-300216 or 25-300187, in preparation for taking the necessary legal measures.

13/5/2026

Issued by the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Division, the following statement: As part of the ongoing efforts to combat robbery crimes targeting citizens, especially those carried out through fraudulent methods, a Syrian national filed a complaint before the Mallaqa Police Station in the Regional Gendarmerie Unit, stating that he had been robbed of USD 1,800 by two unidentified women after they got into his car on the public road. The two women allegedly lured him and stole the aforementioned amount before fleeing to an unknown destination. The Mallaqa Police Station immediately launched field and intelligence procedures, and through follow-up investigations succeeded in locating and arresting the two girls, identified as: Y.A. (born in 2001 – undocumented) S.A. (born in 2003 – undocumented) During interrogation, they confessed to the acts attributed to them. Therefore, based on the instructions of the competent judiciary, the General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces circulates their photos and requests anyone who has fallen victim to their acts and recognizes them to report to the aforementioned police station or contact the number: 08-804978, in preparation for taking the necessary legal measures.

13/5/2026