Mérida authorities alert citizens to fraudulent vehicle auction scam

The Mérida City Council has issued a public alert regarding a fraudulent Facebook advertisement promoting a fake “Subasta de Camionetas en Mérida” (Truck Auction in Mérida). The scam uses the municipal government's name and institutional imagery to direct users to an external website, balancebazar.com.

The fraudulent site claims to offer vehicles from the municipal impound lot and requests deposits, guarantees, or advance payments to participate. Authorities have clarified that this website and the associated social media posts are not official and do not belong to the municipality.

Citizens are urged not to make any transfers, deposits, or payments, and to refrain from providing personal, banking, tax, or official documentation through the suspicious links. The City Council noted that all official procedures regarding public assets are conducted under strict regulations and communicated exclusively through institutional channels. Legal actions are being initiated following the detection of the publication.