Cybercrime rises across Latin America through various fraud tactics

Various cybercrime modalities are targeting citizens across Latin America, ranging from institutional impersonation to sophisticated technical attacks.

In Argentina, PAMI has warned retirees against a scam where criminals pose as agency representatives offering free notebooks or tablets via WhatsApp and social media to steal banking and personal data. Similarly, in Mexico, the SSPC has alerted families to fraudulent websites and fake educational institution identities targeting back-to-school shopping. Financial fraud is also rising in Mexico through “caller ID spoofing,” where attackers falsify phone numbers to impersonate banks, a trend noted by CONDUSEF.

Other notable incidents include a ransomware attack on the municipal government of San Luis Potosí, where hackers demanded money after accessing sensitive administrative and taxpayer files. In Colombia, Anato and the National Police are collaborating to combat digital scams where criminals impersonate travel agencies through fake websites and social media profiles to solicit advance payments for non-existent tours. Additionally, “task scams” on Telegram, promising money for social media engagement like “likes,” continue to target users through deceptive payment schemes.