UK charity supporting IDF veterans falls victim to ‘£1 million fraud’

Beit Halochem UK, a charity that supports wounded and disabled veterans in Israel, says it has been the victim of a significant transaction fraud, reportedly in the region of £1 million.

In a letter sent out to the charity’s supporters on Tuesday, Beit Halochem UK chairman, Andrew Wolfson, and chief executive, Spencer Gelding, wrote that they are “devastated” by the “deeply distressing incident”.

They said that a “sophisticated” fraud was carried out by a “third-party foreign exchange company that we had worked with reliably for over three years,” and that the fraud represents “less than 10 per cent” of the total funds raised for the charity since October 7,  2023.

A formal investigation into the matter has been opened by the police, limiting the charity’s ability to share further details of the incident, but it will keep supporters updated as the investigation progresses, they added.

The charity said it is pursuing “every possible avenue” to recover the funds and understand that “at least two other organisations have been targeted by the same perpetrators”.

Wolfson and Gelding went on to say the charity has taken steps to ensure such a fraud cannot happen again by implementing “financial controls and oversight measures” to protect it in the future.

The letter went on: “Our mission, to support brave IDF veterans and victims of terror, is more vital than ever. We will not allow this criminal act to derail the work we do or the impact we strive to make.

“While this situation has been incredibly difficult, it has also reinforced our commitment to transparency with our supporters. We also feel it is our duty to raise awareness among other small charities that transfer funds internationally, especially to Israel.”

Beit Halochem Centre, Jerusalem (Photo: Beit Halochem)[Missing Credit]

Beit Halochem, which translates to “House of Warriors” was established in 1949 following Israel’s War of Independence to support veterans who have been wounded in the line of duty, as well as civilian victims of terror.

It operates state-of-the-art rehabilitation centres across Israel, providing a range of services such as physiotherapy, psychological support, hydrotherapy and occupational therapy.

The facilities care for over 62,000 veterans in Israel, with at least 14,000 joining since October 7 and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.