Three Israeli citizens have been apprehended for carrying out operations on behalf of Iran.

The arrests made over the past two weeks came following a Shin Bet investigation which uncovered a disturbing pattern of Iranian intelligence agents recruiting Israelis through social media platforms and websites offering money for casual jobs.

One such Iranian profile using the fake name Anna Elena on Telegram, reached out to Elimelech Stern, a 21-year-old resident of Beit Shemesh.

Stern was tasked with various missions ranging from seemingly harmless activities like hanging signs in Tel Aviv and hiding money to more sinister tasks such as delivering packages containing severed animal heads and threatening messages to be left at the doorsteps of Israeli civilians. Other missions proposed setting fire to a forest and committing murder, which Stern reportedly refused.

He was promised rewards ranging from $100 to $100,000, depending on the nature of the mission. One particularly alarming task involved purchasing jerrycans and filling them with gasoline, although the ultimate purpose of this mission was not disclosed by the Shin Bet.

Stern allegedly recruited two other individuals to assist him. All three suspects were arrested by Israeli authorities, with Stern being charged in Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday for contacting a foreign agent. The others were questioned and subsequently released pending a decision on whether to indict them.

According to the Shin Bet, Iran’s use of social media to recruit is a well-known modus operandi which authorities are constantly trying to dismantle.

“In recent months, many fictitious profiles used by the Iranian security forces have been located and monitored, and a great deal of information has been collected about the agents behind their operation,” a statement by the Shin Bet reads.

“We recommend that the general public remain alert for such tactics and avoid providing their personal information if contacted by someone they are not acquainted with, and from clicking on links from unfamiliar sources.”