Hit squad, Iowa bank's credit cards are linked, police in Dubai say

[IndianaGreen]

Hit squad, Iowa bank's credit cards are linked, police in Dubai say

By KAREN MRACEK •
• February 25, 2010

An Iowa bank found itself in the middle of international intrigue Wednesday when police revealed that a Middle Eastern hit squad was armed with its credit cards.

Fourteen of the 26 suspects in the Jan. 19 killing of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh were carrying credit cards issued by MetaBank, police in Dubai told various news agencies.

MetaBank, which has 12 locations in northwest and central Iowa, is owned by Meta Financial Group in Storm Lake.

The case left questions Wednesday about ties between the bank and the suspects, who Dubai police believe are linked to Israel's secret service. Two suspects reportedly have been arrested and are being held in Dubai; international arrest warrants have been issued for the others.

The suspects obtained the credit cards with fake passports, police say, and used the cards to book hotel rooms and pay for travel.

"MetaBank is declining comment pending a factual review of this matter," said Lisa Bender, vice president of investor relations and corporate communications for Meta Financial Group.

The company also owns Meta Payment Systems, which provides credit card, prepaid cards, ATM cards and other services to more than 1,000 institutions and businesses. It was the second-largest issuer nationally of prepaid credit cards in 2008, with $3.52 billion in purchase volume, according to CreditCards.com.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100225/BUSINESS/2250359/-1/SPORTS12/Hit-squad-Iowa-bank-s-credit-cards-are-linked-police-in-Dubai-say

MetaBank cards tied to Hamas leader death

Credit cards issued by a Northwest Iowa-based bank have been linked to the alleged murder of a senior leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to Dubai officials.

Twenty-six suspects have been connected in the death of Mahmoud al Mabhouh. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Dubai police had identified credit cards used by 14 of the suspects to pay for hotel rooms and air travel, “Dubai names more suspects in Hamas leader’s death.

According to the story, police say the cards were issued by MetaBank, a division of Storm Lake, Iowa-based Meta Financial Group.

According to the WSJ story, “Dubai also identified a company called Payoneer Inc. based in New York, though it wasn’t clear what precise role authorities believe that company played. In a chart released to reporters, authorities suggested the company distributed the cards on behalf of MetaBank.”

The WSJ said the bank had no comment “because we are trying to confirm the accuracy of statements by the press.”

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/app/blogs/eye_on_business/?p=810

[aquart]

1. "Believe are linked." That's nice.

What else do they believe in? The Great Pumpkin?

So far these articles are nothing but speculation and air. But do keep posting them. They're so very informative.

[Ozymanithrax]

2. This is an intereestig case...

The two suspects mentioned above are Palastinians. "Two of the new suspects, identified as Nicole Sandra McCabe and Adam Marcus Korman and carrying Australian passports, left Dubai on a ship bound for Iran." Many of the stolen identities were from people living in Israel but holding passports from other nations.

This case puts down interestig roots.

[shira]

4. Two Palestinian suspects fled to Iran - proving of course the Mossad is behind this! (nt)

[Ozymanithrax]

5. I did not say this. The story was misleading by not saying that the..

only two suspects in custody are Palastinians.

I had to go to a different story to find that two of the people actually left for Iran. I added the reported fact that many of the passports were of people living in Israel to show tht dificulty in this.

I find it unlikly that Mossad agents would choose a trip to Iran as their get away plan. But it is possible.

What bothers me is the repeated reporting that it is 99% or 100% likely that the Mossad did this. The evidence available in the stories does not lead to that conclusion. Hell, a bank here in the U.S. in Ohio issued most of the Credit Cards used by the hit team. All the other members either fled to east Asia or Europe.

Certainly, the Mossad does have motive. They are known to use Palastinian informants in Hamas, so the men arrested could be working for the Mossad, and they have the training. So clearly they had the opportunity to do the crime.

I still remember, that after 9/11 we accused Al Qaeda and Saddam Husain, though most of the terrorists were Saudi citizens with Saudi passport. That was probably the only thing Saddam was ever innocent of.

[stranger81]

6. The Iowa bank may have branded the credit cards, but they were issued by

a company whose CEO is former IDF Special Forces, and whose R&D operations are in Israel.

But by all means, keep talking about Indiana. (The state, not IG.)

[Ozymanithrax]

7. Though the other banks was involved...

I had not seen that it was they who "branded" the cards. Evidence continues to mount.

[ConsAreLiars]

3. stranger81 in a locked thread provided a great deal of information about the cards' link to Israel.

Payoneer is the intermediary company that issued the Metabank-branded prepaid credit cards.

Read more: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x302508

Just from one of the posts containing slips from various sources:

The company Payoneer Inc., based in New York, has been named in the case – a company that helps facilitate Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. Payoneer provides financial services for trip participants and as the Wall Street Journal reports, the company’s chief executive, Yuval Tal, is a former Israeli special-forces soldier.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Dubai also identified a company called Payoneer Inc., based in New York, though it wasn’t clear what precise role authorities believe that company played. In a chart released to reporters, authorities suggested the company distributed the cards on behalf of MetaBank.

According to its Web site, Payoneer offers online payment solutions, including arranging for employers to pay overseas workers through money transfers into prepaid MasterCard debit-card accounts. Payoneer is based in New York, but has offices in Tel Aviv.

The company’s chief executive, Yuval Tal, appeared as a commentator on the Lebanon war in 2006 on Fox News, identifying himself as a former Israeli special-forces soldier. Mr. Tal wasn’t available to comment.

(edit to clarify that the posts were from news sources, rather than being dumb opinions pulled out of some nether place.)