Fictitious invoices, AI campaigns and fears of collaborators: IDF's unusual warning to reservists
The army notified reservists that scammers are trying to convince them to "extract" aid funds through videos and images created by artificial intelligence and distributed online. According to the IDF, financial reimbursements are provided only for actual expenses and it is forbidden to submit false documents. One of the entities, with whom we spoke on Channel 12 News, requested a 25% commission and admitted to forging invoices. The army asked not to expose the investigation - and then issued the notice itself.
Reservists received a message this week from the IDF warning against scammers offering to help them extract their aid funds. The message came after videos, most of which were produced using AI, have been distributed in recent months, suggesting that reservists should not be "suckers" and should extract the money they are legally entitled to.
One of the entities offering these services is "Miluim Kal". In one of the videos distributed online, "Miluim Kal" claimed that the service is provided without any obligation. In correspondence with Channel 12 News, the entity asked us to send personal details that would allow it to submit an application to the aid fund on our behalf - in exchange for a 25% commission of the money that would enter the bank account.
The company representative admitted that he submits invoices for treatments that did not take place and that he has people he works with who issue the invoices. In this way, the reservist will receive a refund for treatments that did not happen - in exchange for a fat commission for the "Miluim Kal" company.
In the IDF's message, it was clarified to the soldiers that submitting false documents or providing misleading information for the purpose of receiving a refund is prohibited - and may constitute a criminal offense. In addition, the IDF emphasized that financial reimbursements from the aid fund are provided for expenses actually incurred only, and in accordance with the eligibility conditions established.
"The IDF will continue to act for the benefit of the reservists and their welfare, while maintaining integrity, responsibility and strict adherence to proper use of public funds," the statement read.
Before publishing the article, an inquiry was made by Channel 12 News to the IDF Spokesperson to receive the army's response to the phenomenon. The IDF Spokesperson asked not to publish the article, because it would lead to the disruption of an internal army investigation. They claimed that it is being examined whether there are collaborators within the army who help companies such as "Miluim Kal", and that it is better to keep the issue under the radar. The IDF Spokesperson asked to delay the publication until another conversation with an officer dealing with the subject - and then, strangely, they published a message to all reservists, in a way that contradicts their previous claims.
