Dozens of Israeli Actors Targeted in Iranian Phishing Scheme

The Cyber Directorate cautioned that the stolen data could be exploited for fraud, identity theft, or other malicious activity.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Dozens of Israeli actors have been caught up in a phishing attack traced to Iranian-linked sources, according to Israel’s National Cyber Directorate.

The attackers posed as film producers, luring performers with what appeared to be legitimate casting calls for a movie about Hamas’s October 7 massacre.

The Directorate reported that the hackers compromised an email account and used it to distribute fraudulent audition requests.

The messages, claiming to represent a well-known director, instructed recipients to provide personal details, home addresses, scanned copies of ID cards and passports, and recorded audition clips.

Officials confirmed that many actors complied, sending sensitive materials in response. Soon after, some victims began receiving threatening follow-up messages attributed to Iran-backed actors, escalating concerns that the scheme was not only about data theft but also psychological intimidation.

One actress told Ynet that she received an email purporting to be from director Ari Folman, inviting her to audition for a film about October 7.

She said the message asked her to film a short video explaining her suitability for the role and attach personal documents.

The Cyber Directorate cautioned that the stolen data could be exploited for fraud, identity theft, or other malicious activity.

Officials advised victims to immediately replace their ID cards and passports through the Population and Immigration Authority, update and strengthen passwords across all online services, and enable two-factor authentication.

They further recommended alerting banks and credit card companies and keeping a close watch on financial accounts for irregular transactions.

Authorities stressed that anyone receiving similar suspicious invitations should not share personal information and should report the messages through the National Cyber Directorate’s hotline or website.

The incident highlights ongoing Iranian cyber efforts to target Israelis, adding to a series of attempts uncovered in recent months. Security experts warn that beyond the risk of financial exploitation, such campaigns are designed to sow fear and erode public trust.