[REVISION HISTORY]

Argentina online fraud surge

10 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-27 11:38 UTC → 2026-10-22 12:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

By mid-September 2026, new fraudulent modalities emerged in Argentina. In Tandil, the Municipal Office of Consumer Information (OMIC) warned of a digital ‘uncle’ scam where criminals pose as social media buyers, claiming to have overpaid for items to pressure sellers into immediate refunds. Simultaneously, Banco Provincia (BAPRO) alerted the public to fake investment advisors using social engineering. These scammers often request victims to share screens or install remote access applications to steal security codes and facilitate unauthorized transfers, sometimes using fictitious platforms to display fake profits. Technological advancements have ~~also~~ introduced more sophisticated impersonation tactics. Economic journalist Willy Kohan reported that his likeness was manipulated using artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos on YouTube, promoting fraudulent investment schemes. ~~Although the synthesized voice featured a suspicious Spanish accent, the videos used his image to lend false credibility to the scams.~~ On September 18, authorities in Buenos Aires province expanded their warnings to include a WhatsApp scam targeting retirees and pensioners. The Institute of Social Security (IPS) and IOMA reported that criminals are impersonating these organizations to request fraudulent payments under the guise of processing a ‘fe de vida’ (proof of life) procedure. By late September, reports of diverse scams continued to rise. In Río Negro, a retiree lost over 1.1 million pesos after criminals impersonated gas company employees using remote access software. In Tucumán, a 74-year-old woman was targeted by individuals posing as health subsidy employees, leading to a fraudulent 10-million-peso loan application. Additionally, in Santa Fe, a man was detained for defrauding a woman of approximately 25,000 dollars through a fraudulent spiritualist ~~scheme involving fake rituals.~~ scheme. On September 23, ~~new warnings highlighted additional schemes.~~ PAMI alerted affiliates to fraudulent messages regarding diaper deliveries, trips, or computer distributions.

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