Cicpc director warns of new extortion scheme using forged arrest warrants

Douglas Rico, the director general of Venezuela’s Scientific, Penal, and Criminalistic Investigation Corps (Cicpc), has issued an alert regarding a new extortion scheme. Criminal groups are using falsified documents, including altered institutional logos and Rico’s stolen signature, to issue fake arrest warrants and summons.

These criminal organizations contact victims to intimidate them with fictitious serious crimes, subsequently demanding money transfers to allegedly halt the fraudulent judicial processes. Rico clarified that these notifications have no legal value and emphasized that all official Cicpc summons follow strict legal protocols and are delivered in person by properly identified officers. The public is urged not to make any payments and to report these incidents to any Cicpc station immediately.