Fake $100 Bills Surface in Matanzas: A Growing Concern in Cuba

Recently, a new instance of counterfeit $100 bills has been uncovered in the province of Matanzas, specifically in the Union de Reyes municipality. This event has once again raised alarms about the spread of fraudulent currency in Cuba.

The individual involved is a young woman named Irayis Cañizares Hernández, who was caught by authorities while attempting to use a counterfeit bill in a private café, as reported by the pro-government Facebook page, Con Todos la Victoria.

What initially appeared to be a minor scam attempt quickly escalated into a more serious issue when police discovered that Irayis was in possession of 16 additional counterfeit bills of the same denomination.

The official source mentioned that the incident is currently under investigation, although details about the potential origin of the counterfeit bills or whether Irayis acted independently or as part of a larger network remain undisclosed.

Speculations and Reactions on Social Media

The case has sparked a wave of commentary on social media, where different theories and interpretations are being discussed. Some users focus on the audacity of the young woman, with one commenting, "Brave girl, she didn't realize the danger even when she was in it."

Others speculate that these incidents serve as a state strategy to discourage the use of dollars in the informal market. "The Cuban G2 has this strategy to instill fear so that buying and selling American dollars happens through banks," suggested one user, while another insisted, "The news is true, I'm from Union."

Amid skepticism and humor, many pointed out that these fake bills might originate from prop sets used in film productions. "Those bills aren't fake, they're from a game in the U.S.," noted one commenter, to which another replied, "They're sold on Shein and Temu. It says they're for filming, it's easy to read."

Recurring Incidents in Matanzas

This is not an isolated event. In July, another man was apprehended in Colón, also in Matanzas, for attempting to purchase toiletries with a counterfeit $100 bill. He was arrested after a shop attendant identified the forgery.

Earlier in February, another similar incident took place in the Jovellanos municipality, where a man was detained for trying to pay with a fake $100 bill in a café.

A Longstanding Issue

While reports in Cuba often focus on counterfeit Cuban pesos, fake $100 bills have surfaced at other times. In 2023, a larger-scale case was reported in Sancti Spíritus, where three individuals were arrested for selling counterfeit dollars through the classified ads site Revolico.

According to the provincial newspaper Escambray, these individuals sold between 800 and 1,500 fake dollars per person at a rate of 160 to 170 Cuban pesos per dollar, based on the exchange rate at the time.

The victims were identified in municipalities such as Sancti Spíritus, Taguasco, and Cabaiguán. The operations yielded profits up to 160,000 pesos, revealing a well-organized fraud scheme.

The recent case in Union de Reyes is just another chapter in a growing and concerning phenomenon—the circulation of counterfeit bills in an already struggling economy.

Although authorities emphasize the need for vigilance and a "zero tolerance" approach, the structural causes of this practice remain unaddressed: currency shortages, market informality, and the desperation driving many to take risks for a supposed opportunity.

What's clear is that the circulation of counterfeit $100 bills in Matanzas is neither a coincidence nor an isolated incident, but rather part of a pattern that demands deeper and less propagandistic responses.

Meanwhile, as one commenter wisely noted, citizens "will need to be more perceptive in any purchase or sale, even for something as simple as a cup of coffee."