Michoacán Extortion Calls Linked to Specific Area Codes

Michoacán’s anti‑extortion unit analyzed the last 1,000 reports received through the anonymous 089 line and identified the most frequent long‑distance area codes used in phone‑based extortion. The majority of calls originated from Mexico City’s 55 code (237 reports), followed by Jalisco’s 33 (103), Nuevo León’s 81 (58), Puebla’s 222 (37) and Querétaro’s 442 (19). State officials note that perpetrators often use numbers from other states to create fear and deceive victims.

Authorities urge residents to follow the "Cuelga, Verifica y Marca 089" campaign: hang up immediately, verify the caller’s identity, avoid providing money or personal data, and report the incident to the 089 hotline. The strategy targets high‑risk municipalities such as Uruapan and Apatzingán and aims to protect local businesses and citizens from financial loss.