A total of five Cubans, three men and two women, were arrested in the city of Holguín for scamming and robbing individuals interested in purchasing dollars through social media, according to the state-run outlet Cazador-Cazado. The source revealed that the suspects used a Facebook profile named "Claudia Ramírez" to announce their intent to buy dollars in various groups, providing a phone number for private communication.
They would then arrange to meet in a secluded location, using violence or intimidation to steal money from their victims. The arrested individuals were identified as Jorge Írsula Cardosa, Yunior Reyna, Adriana Arsuaga, Ariana Hernández Tamayo, and Noel Román. They were apprehended in a house in the Vista Alegre neighborhood of the city just as they were about to commit the crime, according to the source, which did not provide further details on what led authorities to the suspects or the number of potential victims.
In the final section of the publication, the state-run profile took the opportunity to discourage the purchase of foreign currency on the black market. "Always remember that opting for legal practices to conduct transactions or financial exchanges, avoiding informal markets, and promptly reporting such incidents to the authorities will help prevent scams and other associated crimes from proliferating," the statement concluded.
Recently, a woman allegedly attempting to scam some Cubans in Artemisa was detained by the individuals involved in the transaction and threatened with being held until she returned the money. "This woman went to Alquízar, Artemisa province, to someone's house with two men in a yellow taxi to buy 2000 MLC. They made the transfer, but a call from Havana said the money had not been credited to the card," reported activist Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia on Facebook, urging the woman's family or friends to return the money. Sharing images of the woman, the activist added that the men accompanying her fled the scene. The report also noted that "the police are aware of the situation and stated they will not intervene."
At the end of June, Cuban police dismantled a large-scale scam network involved in the illegal trade of foreign currency in Santa Clara, Villa Clara, arresting four women allegedly part of it. From late 2023 until their arrest, the detainees carried out more than 15 scam 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.
In February, two men were also arrested in Santa Clara for their involvement in several currency scam cases. A month earlier, police detained three men and one woman in the same city for multiple instances of scam and violent robbery related to foreign currency transactions.
Around that time, in response to the rise in scam incidents during bank transfers via the Central Bank of Cuba's app, Transfermóvil, a Cuban made a video demonstrating how these criminals conduct such thefts. The young man warned his followers to observe the modus operandi of what he called "parasites" and urged them not to be deceived.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dollar Scams in Cuba
Given the recent arrests and ongoing issues with dollar scams in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions to help you understand the situation better.
How were the suspects in Holguín carrying out the scam?
The suspects used a fake Facebook profile to lure victims interested in buying dollars, arranging meetings in secluded locations where they used violence or intimidation to steal money.
What advice did the state-run outlet give regarding currency transactions?
The outlet advised opting for legal practices for financial transactions, avoiding informal markets, and promptly reporting incidents to authorities to help prevent scams and associated crimes.
What other recent scam incidents have occurred in Cuba?
Recent incidents include the arrest of a woman in Artemisa for a scam attempt, the dismantling of a large-scale scam network in Santa Clara, and several other arrests related to currency scams in the same city.