Impersonated a man for years: "We were in a romantic relationship - until I discovered it was a woman"

A resident of Petah Tikva in her 20s was arrested on Sunday on suspicion of impersonating a man and conducting romantic and sexual relationships with several women over the years via phone and online.

"For months we were in a romantic relationship, until I discovered it was a woman."

The investigation began on July 26, after four women filed complaints at the Petah Tikva station. According to their testimonies, each of them had been in a relationship with the suspect at different times and for a long period, while she presented herself to them as a man. The relationships were conducted mainly through phone calls and online, until the complainants discovered that a woman was actually behind the identity.

During the investigation, the police located another complainant, and at this stage, the police are aware of five women who were apparently harmed by a similar pattern of operation. Today, as the investigation became public, police officers raided the suspect's apartment in Petah Tikva and arrested her. During the search of her home, laptops, a mobile phone, and several digital storage devices were seized and transferred for examination.

The suspect will be brought to court tomorrow, and the police will request to extend her detention and allow the publication of her name — among other things, in an attempt to locate other women who may have been harmed by her.