Morocco arrests Israeli national wanted internationally for large-scale scams

Moroccan police have arrested an Israeli fraud suspect, Avi Golan, in Marrakech, following a nighttime raid on a luxury villa in an upscale neighborhood, putting an end to years of international scams carried out under multiple identities, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

Golan, 70, who operated under aliases such as Yair Bibert, is wanted in several countries under an Interpol warrant and is suspected of defrauding hundreds of victims worldwide.

According to sources, Golan posed as wealthy businessmen from various countries, including a Brazilian Jewish billionaire and an American entrepreneur, using fake passports and forged bank documents. Moroccan authorities transferred him from Marrakech to a prison in Rabat, where he is being held pending extradition proceedings.

The arrest follows a wave of complaints filed in Morocco and abroad, particularly targeting members of Jewish communities. Victims reported being approached for donations under false pretenses, including funding flights or food aid for Moroccan Jews.