JERUSALEM, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel's National Fraud Unit Monday morning arrested seven Israelis and Americans on suspicion of a large-scale scam against U.S. tax authorities, local daily the Jerusalem Post reported.

    According to an initial probe, 62-year-old Jerusalem resident Marvin Berkowitz, who holds both Israeli and American citizenships, obtained the personal data of American prisoners, posed as them and appealed to the U.S. tax authorities for tax refunds due from the period prior to their incarceration, said the report.

    It was not clear if the other six were involved in the same case or in separate cases of scam.

    The money, at times amounting to tens of thousands of U.S. dollars, was then deposited in Israeli bank accounts, the newspaper said, adding that police will ask the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court to extend the detainees' remand.

    Meanwhile, local daily Ha'aretz reported that a hearing is scheduled for Monday afternoon in the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, where the suspects will be arraigned.

    The affair follows a similar case last month in which 11 Israelis were arrested for allegedly swindling elderly Americans out of more than 25 million dollars in a telemarketing sting, said Ha'aretz, adding that prosecutors sought court approval to extradite the 11 people who are wanted in the United States.