Oaxaca authorities rescue teenager lured by fake TikTok job offer

Authorities in Mexico have rescued a 15-year-old boy from captivity in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, after he was lured by a fraudulent job offer on TikTok. The teenager, originally from Oaxaca, had been missing since August 22, 2026.

According to investigations by the Oaxaca State Attorney General's Office (FGEO), the minor was contacted via TikTok regarding a position as a security guard promising a weekly salary of 4,000 pesos with no experience required. After traveling to Jalisco for the job, the teenager was instead held against his will by a criminal group, where he reportedly suffered physical abuse and was forced to perform labor for organized crime.

The rescue was a coordinated effort involving the Oaxaca Prosecutor's Office, the Mexican Navy (Secretaría de Marina), and the Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office. The teenager has been returned to Oaxaca to receive medical and psychological care as part of his reintegration into his family.