The Cuban police dismantled a multi-million peso scam network involving illegal currency exchange in the city of Santa Clara, located in Villa Clara. Four women, allegedly part of this operation, have been detained.
Since late 2023, until the time of their arrest, the suspects conducted over 15 fraudulent operations, each involving amounts ranging from 800,000 to over 1,000,000 Cuban pesos, according to Lieutenant Colonel Héctor de la Fe Freire, head of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in the central Cuban city.
The officer did not disclose the identities of the four women but mentioned that they are between 28 and 46 years old and reside in Santa Clara. De la Fe outlined the gang's modus operandi: two of the alleged scammers arranged the currency exchange deals through social media and summoned their victims to specific homes in the Condado Popular Council. At the location, another woman would receive the cash - in national currency - from the interested buyer and leave the room, supposedly to fetch the foreign currency. Instead, she would exit the house through another door, where a fourth member awaited on a motorcycle, and they fled with the money.
Authorities received over 15 reports of similar incidents, with consistent descriptions of the detained women's physical characteristics and their operational methods, De la Fe confirmed. Officers from the National Revolutionary Police and the Intelligence Directorate (DTI) thwarted the latest scam attempt and apprehended the women, seizing two motorbikes used in their getaways.
Three of the detainees had prior criminal records, and two were already wanted for the same crime in the Cienfuegos province. De la Fe stated that the women are being processed by the Criminal Investigation Unit in Santa Clara. "The investigation aims to identify the victims and recover, as much as possible, the scammed money," he noted.
Authorities Warn Against Unknown Currency Transactions
The MININT chief warned the public against engaging in transactions with strangers to avoid scams and involvement in illegal currency trade. In February, two men were arrested in Santa Clara for their role in various currency exchange fraud cases. A month earlier, in the same city, police detained three men and a woman for multiple fraud and violent robbery incidents tied to foreign currency exchange.
Last month, a police operation in Villa Clara's capital responded to reports of two major scams. One case involved the exchange of 22 crates of Cristal beer, valued at over 15 million pesos, while the other involved food products like condensed milk and imported cookies, worth more than two million pesos.
Frequently Asked Questions about Currency Exchange Scams in Villa Clara
Here are some common questions and answers regarding the recent currency exchange scams in Villa Clara, aimed at helping the public stay informed and cautious.
How did the authorities catch the scammers?
The National Revolutionary Police and the Intelligence Directorate managed to intercept the scammers during their latest fraudulent operation, leading to their arrest and the seizure of their getaway motorcycles.
What should the public do to avoid falling victim to such scams?
The Ministry of the Interior advises the public to avoid engaging in currency transactions with unknown individuals and to be cautious about deals arranged through social media to prevent fraud and illegal activities.
Were the scammers previously known to the authorities?
Yes, three of the detained women had criminal records, and two were already wanted for similar crimes in the Cienfuegos province.