Yadi Torres Moraga raised alarms this Monday in the MIPYME Santiago de Cuba Facebook group by exposing a scam targeting private businesses and self-employed workers in the province. This scheme involves falsified electronic transfers designed to mimic official notifications from Mobile Payments.
"I want to alert everyone to be extremely careful with transfers, as they are scamming in a very well-prepared way," wrote Torres. She shared that in less than a month, three different groups attempted the same fraud.
The scam unfolds as follows: the alleged scammers approach the business, build trust with the owner, and once the products are selected, they claim they don't know how to make an online payment and ask for assistance.
They then display a text message that looks like an official Mobile Payments notification, featuring the self-employed worker's name, the exact amount, and the date, all crafted to appear legitimate at first glance.
Identifying the Scam
The technical deception, however, has a detectable flaw: Mobile Payments does not have the option to send SMS.
"If you click where it says 'Mobile Payments' to view the contact information, no phone number should appear. If a number does show up, then it's not the official platform but a disguised contact, and it's a scam," explained Torres.
What the scammers do is save a contact on their phone under the name "Mobile Payments" and use that contact to send or forward an edited message, simulating a payment confirmation.
Details of the Fraud Attempts
In the second attempt recorded by Torres, the individuals involved also showed the supposed last 10 transactions, all of which were equally fabricated.
Torres described the alleged perpetrators in each of the three attempts: the first time, two men arrived on a tricycle; the second, two young people on a motorbike with helmets, one of them sporting wing tattoos on his neck; the third, a tall, thin man requesting large quantities of products while coordinating with a tricycle outside.
"There are many bandits like these on the streets, and together we can prevent them from continuing to scam," concluded Torres, urging that the post be shared to reach all businesses in Santiago de Cuba.
Recommendations and Broader Context
Torres Moraga's recommendation is clear and aligns with warnings issued by ETECSA and Transfermóvil since 2024: do not release merchandise until confirming within the banking app that the money has been credited, and do not rely on messages, screenshots, or any external confirmations.
This scam is part of a growing pattern of digital fraud documented in various Cuban provinces. Recently, five residents of Isla de la Juventud lost over 300,000 pesos in bank transfer scams, and the victims reported that the National Revolutionary Police merely took their statements without taking action, despite having data on the alleged perpetrator.
Last month, a Cuban woman warned about a similar scam in Cienfuegos where the buyer transferred money to an accomplice's phone.
Understanding Fake Transfer Scams in Cuba
How can businesses identify fake transfer notifications?
Businesses should verify that no phone number appears when checking the contact information for Mobile Payments. Real notifications should not have a phone number linked to them.
What preventive measures should businesses take against such scams?
Businesses are advised not to release products until verifying the transaction within the banking application itself, disregarding any text messages or screenshots as proof of payment.
What actions have authorities taken regarding these scams?
Despite reports and available information on the scams, victims have noted insufficient action from authorities, such as the National Revolutionary Police, who have been criticized for only taking statements without further investigation.