Elissa Fraud Case: Lebanese Singer Reportedly Defrauded ofโ $2.7 Million
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Beirut, Lebanon – August โข20, 2025 – Lebanese singer Elissa is at the center of a significant fraud investigation after reportedly being defrauded of $2.7 million by a businessman who โขsubsequently fled theโ country. The allegations, brought โขto light by Lebanese journalist Hadi Al-Amin, detail a complex โขscheme involving a check, a โfailed conversion toโ cash, and โคan โคescape facilitated by the suspect’s British citizenship.
Details of the Alleged โFraud
According to Al-Amin’s reporting, businessman Ali Sobhi Qasimโข Hammoud, originating from Joya, is the primary โsuspect inโ the fraud. Al-Amin initially shared details on his Facebook page, calling โfor the attention of Lebanese public security and internal security forces. The journalistโ alleges inconsistencies in Hammoud’s accounts of the events.
The alleged โคfraud unfolded in 2019 when Elissaโข providedโข Hammoud with โa check for $1.7 โmillion, intending โฃfor it to beโค converted into U.S. dollars.โ However, Hammoud reportedly failed to โขdeliver the cashโ and subsequently fled Lebanon through Beirutโ International Airport, leveraging his Britishโฃ passport to avoid legal repercussions.
Did Youโฃ know? โฆ
Individuals holding dualโค citizenship can sometimes navigateโค legal processes differentlyโ depending on the โคlaws of each country.
al-Amin further stated that Hammoud hadโ a โprior conviction butโฃ wasโ able to evade justice due to his British nationality. โฃ The journalist’s disclosures, initially made on Al-Jadeedโ TV,โ have sparked considerable public interestโฃ and concern.
Timeline โขof โEvents
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Elissa โขissues a check for $1.7 million to Ali Hammoud. |
| Post-2019 | Hammoud allegedly fails to convert the check to cash and flees Lebanon. |
| August 20, โข2025 | Journalist Hadi Al-Amin publicly reveals details of the alleged fraud. |
The case highlights potential vulnerabilities in financial transactions โคand theโข challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing withโ individuals possessing multiple citizenships.
Pro Tip: Always seek legal counsel before engaging inโ large financial transactions, especially with unfamiliar parties.
authorities โhave yetโ toโ issue an official statement regardingโฃ theโ investigation. โ It remains unclear whether an international arrest warrant will be issued for Hammoud. What steps willโค Lebanese authorities take to recover the funds and bring the suspectโค to justice?
The incident raises questions about financial security for high-profile individuals in Lebanon and the effectiveness ofโ existing legalโค frameworks in preventing and prosecuting โคfraud. Howโค can Lebanon strengthen โits financial regulations โto protect its citizens andโฃ residents from similar schemes?

Context: โคFinancial โขFraud inโ Lebanon
Lebanon has faced significant economicโ instability in recent years, creating a fertile ground for financial crimes.The devaluation of the Lebaneseโ pound and restrictions on bank โwithdrawals have made citizens and businesses more vulnerable to โขfraud. The country’s legal system, while capable, often faces challenges related to resources and political interference, hindering effective prosecution of complex financial cases. According to โขa report โby the World Bank, Lebanon’s economic crisis isโฃ among the worst globally, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
Frequently โAsked Questions
- What is the amount of โmoney Elissa allegedly lost? Elissa is reported to have beenโ defrauded of $2.7 million.
- Who is the primary suspect in the Elissaโ fraud case? Ali Sobhi Qasimโค Hammoud is the primary โsuspect.
- What role โขdid โAli Hammoud’s British citizenship play inโข the case? His British citizenship reportedly allowed him to flee Lebanon and potentially evade legal prosecution.
- Whenโข did โthe alleged fraud take place? The alleged fraud occurred in 2019.
- Is there an ongoing โinvestigation? While authorities โhave โnot yetโ issued a statement, journalist Hadi Al-Amin has reported the case and โcalled for an investigation.
We’ll continueโ to follow this developing story and provideโฃ updates as they become available. โ If โขyou foundโ this articleโค insightful,please share it withโฃ your network and join the conversation in the โcomments below. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for the latestโ breaking โnews and in-depthโ analysis.
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