The Cienfuegos newspaper “5 de Septiembre” has issued a warning to the population regarding the growing number of scams related to the sale of foreign currency and other businesses through social networks.
The warning is based on the testimony of an elderly man, who preferred to remain anonymous. The victim recounted how he was the victim of a scam when he tried to buy dollars through contacts on social networks.
The individual said he was contacted by a stranger who offered to sell him $400. The meeting took place in an apartment, where they counted the money and the supposed seller asked him to wait a moment while he went to look for the dollars in another room. What seemed to be a normal transaction turned out to be a trap when the seller never returned. Minutes later, another person appeared at the location, visibly upset, asking what he was doing there.
The man, following realizing the scam, immediately went to the police to report the incident. After an exhaustive investigation, the authorities were able to solve the case, arresting those responsible, who were involved in multiple similar frauds. The victim decided to share his experience, in which he lost 600 thousand pesos, in the hope of preventing others from falling into the same trap.
Scams are on the rise
Authorities from the Ministry of the Interior and the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office have warned regarding the increase in scams on social networks. They stress that the naivety and trust of victims, together with the carrying out of illegal transactions with strangers, make it easier for them to fall for these scams.
Lieutenant Colonel Yasser Brito Moya, head of the Regional Criminal Investigation Unit, explained three common methods of operation in these frauds. The most frequent is bank transfers, where scammers publish offers to buy and sell currency on social networks at attractive prices, and only the victim makes the transfer.
Another common method is identity theft, where scammers pretend to be someone else and request large sums of money from the impersonated person’s relatives. Scammers closely study social media profiles and then contact victims via WhatsApp.
Fake profiles
The third method is similar to the case mentioned above, where scammers use fake profiles and invite victims to a location prepared for the scam. There, following creating an atmosphere of trust, they disappear with the money.
Osiris Amador Dávila, chief prosecutor of the Criminal Proceedings Department, indicated that, although many cases have been solved and those responsible are in provisional prison, the complexity of these crimes lies in the use of false profiles and the lack of traces following the fraud was committed. In addition, the law does not provide for the return of money to the victims, since the crime was committed through another illegal activity, such as illegal currency trafficking.
Both specialists agree that anyone, regardless of their educational level, can be a victim of these crimes if they expose themselves on social media. Simulation and the ability to deceive are intrinsic characteristics of scammers, enhanced by the digital environment.
While authorities continue to investigate and solve these crimes, the public is urged to act with caution and common sense. These events demonstrate the truth of a well-known popular saying: “In trust lies danger.”
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