A young Cuban woman living on the island has taken to TikTok to expose an alleged scam involving herself, her sister, and fellow neighborhood residents. The scam, orchestrated by their electricity bill collector, forced them to repay months of bills to avoid losing their service. "We had to pay for electricity for five months because the collector scammed me, my sister, and everyone in my neighborhood," explained user @sheyreyes03 in a video shared on the Chinese social media platform.
In her video, the woman presented evidence of the electricity bill payments, emphasizing that despite proving they had already settled their dues, the electric service authorities disclaimed any responsibility for the fraud and insisted they needed to pay again to prevent disconnection. "It's not our fault that man scammed us, and here is proof that all bills were paid. They told us they weren't responsible and that we had to repay the electricity," she added.
The victim disclosed that her sister had to pay 3,000 pesos and she herself paid 700 to maintain electricity access. "But we had to pay it because otherwise, we would never have electricity again, they said," she recounted.
This incident has sparked outrage among internet users, who condemned the electric company's lack of accountability and the exploitation suffered by affected customers. So far, Cuban authorities have not issued an official response to the young woman's claims. However, similar incidents have been reported across the island, where public service payments through intermediaries have led to scams and misuse amidst the country's ongoing economic crisis.
The video highlighting this grievance has garnered thousands of reactions on social media, echoing the frustration of Cubans over inefficiency and lack of safeguards against such injustices.
Understanding Electric Bill Fraud in Cuba
What was the alleged scam involving the electricity bills?
The alleged scam involved the electricity bill collector deceiving residents, forcing them to repay months of bills despite having already paid, in order to avoid losing their service.
How did the authorities respond to the fraud claims?
The authorities claimed no responsibility for the fraud and insisted that the affected parties needed to pay again to avoid electricity disconnection.
What has been the public reaction to this situation?
The public reaction has been one of outrage, with many criticizing the electric company's lack of accountability and the exploitation of customers in Cuba.