Río Grande: Pastry shop owners lose 9 million pesos to phone scam

Owners of the Framé pastry shop, Belén and Yamila Ibáñez, were victims of a sophisticated virtual scam in Río Grande that resulted in the loss of over 9 million pesos.

The fraud occurred following a phone call regarding a supposed order. After receiving a fake transfer receipt, the victims were told the bank was withholding the funds and were subsequently contacted by individuals posing as bank representatives. During this process, the scammers obtained personal data and emptied the victims' Mercado Pago and Tarjeta Naranja accounts, as well as their credit lines.

The stolen funds were intended for business expenses, including rent, raw materials, and market stall fees. The theft also included their father's pension funds. The sisters have filed a police report and are seeking community support to continue their business operations.