A Cuban woman in the United States reported on social media an attempted scam that began with a comment on one of her videos. The user, identified on TikTok as @cubanita09, recounted that someone reached out to her claiming to want to paint a portrait of her. “Yesterday, a person contacted me here and left a comment saying they wanted to paint a picture of this beautiful face,” she said. At first, she decided to give the person the benefit of the doubt, but the subsequent conversation confirmed that it was a scam.
The supposed proposal included a payment of a thousand dollars. According to the messages she provided, the "client" would send that amount, and from it, three hundred dollars would go to the model, while the remainder was to be redirected for art materials. In her account, the woman directly quotes what the alleged scammer wrote to her: "My client plans to make a payment of 1,000 for the muse, while your share will be 300, and the rest will be used for painting materials." The Cuban responded with suspicion: "How much is the check you're going to send me?" and then questioned: "And how do I send you the rest?" revealing her doubt. Ultimately, she confronted the sender directly: "Now it's time for you to send me my name, my email, you send me a check for 1,000 that bounces so I can send you 700 before the bank tells me the check has no funds and you can scam me. I understand everything perfectly. You picked the wrong person. While you were going, I was already coming."
The woman reported that the person behind the scam operates with multiple profiles on social media, such as Sarah Colin, Sara Arte, or Laura Arte. "Look here, all of these are that person's profiles. So be vigilant, because it’s always the same approach," she warned. She explained that this technique has also been used to deceive people with excuses like study materials, carpentry jobs, or vehicle promotions. "They'll send you a check for 1,000 or 2,000 so that you can keep 400 and send them the rest. By the time the bank clears the check, they’ve already scammed you," she alerted.
The report generated dozens of reactions from other users who claimed to have received similar messages. One follower commented: “In the same way, they scammed a friend of my son’s, supposedly with a masonry job. It was terrible. They took 8,000 dollars. The poor guy fell into the trap; they deposited the check into his account, and he even saw the money.” Another testimony warned: “They did the same to me. I told him to negotiate with my husband, who is a detective, and he immediately stopped writing to me.” A user recounted that she was contacted to put posters on her car and was also asked to send money. “That’s a scheme to scam the gullible,” she said. A woman named Lisy claimed they tried to do the same to her, but she also didn’t fall for it. Another person shared that they had already seen a similar case on TikTok: “This is the second video with this type of information in just two days. My God, what shameless people.”
Other users reported that they were asked to use photos of themselves or their children, and even received the message in both English and Spanish. “I got the same message a few days ago and I blocked it,” one shared. Another explained, “They wrote to me saying they were going to paint me with my children. What madness. They don't know what else to come up with.”
This type of scam adds to other recent cases reported by Cubans on social media. In Brazil, a young woman explained that she received a message about an alleged outstanding fee for a postal package, which turned out to be false. In the United States, others reported messages about unpaid tolls with fraudulent links designed to steal banking information. And in Italy, a Cuban woman reported phone harassment from scammers who knew details about contracts she had recently signed.
The reporter concluded her video by urging the community not to let their guard down. “This can happen with anything. It's always the same approach. So stay vigilant, stay alert, because many people fall for this,” she concluded.
Frequently Asked Questions about Social Media Scams Targeting Cubans
How do the scammers who contacted the Cuban in the U.S. operate?
Scammers contact their victims through comments or messages on social media, offering appealing proposals such as painting a picture for a sum of money. They request that the victim receive a check and return a part of the money, taking advantage of the banking processing time so that the fake check is discovered too late.
What advice can be followed to avoid falling for similar scams?
To avoid falling for scams, it is recommended to verify the authenticity of social media accounts, be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true, and not send money to strangers. Always verify any suspicious transaction directly with banking institutions or official services.
What other types of scams have been reported by Cubans abroad?
Cubans abroad have reported scams such as fake messages about unpaid tolls, false courier fees, counterfeit product sales, and identity theft to request bank transfers. These scams often employ emotional manipulation tactics and fraudulent links to deceive victims.
What action did the Cuban take after the attempted scam in the U.S.?
The Cuban decided to share her experience on TikTok to warn others about the attempted scam. She warned about the multiple fake profiles that use the same method to deceive unsuspecting individuals, urging the community to stay vigilant and not fall for these frauds.
Filed under:
