New Scam Involving Cuban Peso Bills Uncovered in Guantánamo

A warning circulating on social media has highlighted a new scam involving counterfeit 1,000 Cuban peso bills in Guantánamo. These fake bills are reportedly created by altering genuine 200 Cuban peso (CUP) notes to resemble a denomination five times greater.

The alert, issued by the pro-government page "Guantánamo y su Verdad - Con la Fuerza del Pueblo," includes an image illustrating the differences between the real and counterfeit bills, with a circle indicating the visible "200" on the doctored notes.

The scam involves physically modifying a legitimate 200 CUP bill to make it appear as a 1,000 CUP note at a glance.

Despite the deceptive alterations, the counterfeit has a critical flaw: "when held up to the light, the number 200 is clearly visible, confirming the forgery," the warning notes.

Spotting the Fake Currency

The initial incidents have been reported in the Sur Hospital area of Guantánamo city.

"This scam has already been reported in the Sur Hospital zone, affecting several individuals who received these bills during everyday transactions," the notice states.

The alert urges merchants and citizens to "exercise extreme caution when handling cash, carefully inspect each bill before accepting it, and verify any suspicions."

In the event of detecting counterfeit currency, the public is advised to report to authorities: "Reporting these cases enables authorities to investigate and act swiftly, helping to dismantle counterfeiting networks and prevent further victimization."

Economic Context and Past Incidents

This variant is believed to be more deceptive compared to previous methods, where counterfeiters used faded five or 10 peso bills to print the 1,000 CUP image on top.

The 200 CUP bill shares more similarities in paper and security features with the 1,000 CUP note, making it harder to spot at first glance, particularly during quick transactions.

The economic backdrop worsens the situation: Cuba is grappling with a severe banking liquidity crisis, which has heightened the reliance on physical cash, increasing the public's exposure to such scams.

Guantánamo has a recent history of organized crime related to financial frauds.

In November 2025, authorities dismantled a national network of scammers in the province that operated with fake dollars, defrauding nearly six million CUP and 1,000 dollars.

Similarly, in February of this year, another cash scam was reported: folding 500 peso bills to make it seem like there’s more money during rapid counting.

The Cuban Penal Code (Law No. 151 of 2022) prescribes penalties of two to five years in prison for currency counterfeiting, although the recurrence of these scams in different provinces shows that the threat remains persistent.