Iranian intelligence operatives have begun targeting journalists and media professionals in Israel through sophisticated impersonation and phishing attempts, i24NEWS reported.

According to the report, Iranian operatives have recently made several attempts to contact Israeli journalists while posing as Israeli law enforcement officials, seeking to trick them into opening malicious links that could provide access to their accounts.

The report comes after the Shin Bet and Israel National Cyber Directorate issued an unusual warning Sunday about phishing attempts targeting members of the Israeli media.

In one case, the operatives used the name of Maj. Gen. Boaz Balt, head of the Israel Police Investigations and Intelligence Division. An Iranian operative contacted an Israeli journalist while posing as Balt’s assistant and attempted to arrange a meeting with her.

“I am Balt’s adviser. I would like to arrange a meeting with you regarding recent criminal matters,” the operative wrote.

When the journalist asked who she was corresponding with, the operative replied: “I’m Sarah Levy. I schedule the meetings.”

The journalist was subsequently sent an email invitation to a Zoom meeting. At that point, an attempt was made to take control of her account.

Following the incident, the journalist was forced to change her account password and block her credit card.

According to the report, the incident was not an isolated case. Similar approaches have been made to other Israeli journalists, including through social media. The method involves gaining the target’s trust by impersonating a recognizable official or someone acting on that person’s behalf, then sending a malicious link or invitation designed to compromise the victim’s account.

Israeli security officials are investigating the incidents and attempting to determine the scope of the operation.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)