Car purchase scam in Libertad and SIM‑swapping fraud ruling in Argentina highlight rising online fraud

A man in the city of Libertad reported being defrauded after attempting to buy a vehicle through a fake Facebook page that impersonated a well‑known car dealership. He transferred money twice before the sellers demanded additional payment, prompting him to verify the dealer’s legitimacy and discover the scam. The case was filed with local police, and investigators have taken over the investigation.

In Argentina, a civil court upheld a judgment that holds Movistar (Telefónica Móviles Argentina) and Banco Galicia jointly liable for a SIM‑swapping scheme that allowed a fraudster to steal AR$19.2 million from a customer. The court found the telecom provider failed to implement adequate security checks for SIM changes, and the bank did not detect atypical high‑value transfers, leading to the loss.

Both incidents underscore growing challenges in combating online fraud across the region.