Cuba confronts illegal electricity sales and fuel scams amid energy shortages

A Cuban woman, Sisi Aguilera, posted a Facebook video describing widespread illegal sales of electricity and water on the island. She said that only those who can pay receive service, while many households endure severe blackouts. Aguilera cited an incident in Havana's Boyeros municipality where two lineworkers were caught selling electricity, allegedly prioritising private businesses and accepting cash and even alcohol. The state utility Unión Eléctrica confirmed the case and launched an investigation.

At the same time, Cuballama, a company based in Florida, issued a warning about digital fraud targeting Cubans seeking fuel for relatives. Scammers create fake profiles on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram and other platforms, falsely claiming to sell gasoline and other products on the company's behalf. Cuballama stressed that it does not sell fuel, never uses WhatsApp for transactions, and urged people to use only its official website, app or physical stores for payments. Both developments highlight corruption and fraud amid Cuba’s acute energy crisis.