Two arrested in Babil for impersonating charities, defrauding residents

BABIL — Police in Babil arrested two individuals on Thursday for impersonating charitable organizations and defrauding residents, according to a statement from the Babil Police Command.

The suspects were “caught in the act and found in possession of large sums of money,” the statement said. Their arrests followed multiple complaints from victims who said they had been deceived under the pretense of charitable assistance.

A joint task force carried out the operation after securing judicial approvals and collecting intelligence on the suspects. Both individuals “confessed during preliminary and judicial interrogations to conducting several fraud operations in various areas of the governorate,” the police statement said. Legal proceedings have been initiated.

The arrests are part of broader efforts by Iraqi authorities to crack down on impersonation and financial fraud. On Wednesday, Iraq’s Federal Commission of Integrity said it had identified a man conducting blackmail operations from inside prison while posing as an officer at Baghdad International Airport.

Earlier this month, Iraq’s National Security Service arrested three individuals in Diwaniyah and Diyala for impersonating agency officers and offering fake government job appointments in exchange for money.