Colombia and Mexico Deploy Apps to Fight Phone and Loan Scams

In Colombia, a real‑time reporting app lets users flag suspected scam phone numbers, share them with a global database and automatically block calls. The National Police and the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce recommend the tool alongside official complaint channels to protect consumers from fraudulent calls.

In Mexico, authorities warn that a growing number of dubious loan applications, dubbed “montadeudas,” lure users with quick cash offers and then impose hidden fees and aggressive collection tactics. The state cyber‑police in Coahuila and the national consumer‑protection agency Condusef have identified dozens of such apps and advise users to verify the lender’s legal registration, address, and transparent cost terms before accepting any digital loan.

Both initiatives highlight a regional push to use mobile technology and collaborative reporting to curb financial and telephone fraud affecting thousands of citizens.