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Combined forces of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) dismantled a sophisticated criminal network in the city of Guantánamo dedicated to fraud, aimed at the fraudulent buying and selling of dollars (USD).
Eight people -five men and three women- who were part of the structure operating since July of this year, were detained, as revealed by the official Facebook profile "Guantánamo y su verdad."
The most notable aspect of this network is its interprovincial character, as it was mainly made up of Cubans residing in Havana, Villa Clara, and Las Tunas, which highlights considerable planning and logistical mobility.
The structure relied on an organizer based in Guantánamo, whose role was to ensure local contacts and accommodation to facilitate the con artists' presence and operations in the area.
Magnitude of the scam and seized evidence
The authorities have recorded that the total amount defrauded by this criminal network amounts to nearly 6 million CUP and 1,000 USD, highlighting the seriousness of the actions and the economic damage caused to the victims.
During the operations in various areas of the city of Guantanamo, over 100,000 CUP in cash was seized, along with several mobile phones and the lines used to carry out criminal activities through social media.
The criminal algorithm: A method of operation to deceive
To alert the population and promote prevention, the authorities have shared the operating method of this network, which was based on social engineering and the use of a façade to build trust and ensure anonymity.
1. Monitoring and selection of the victim
The criminals operated in groups engaged in buying and selling on social media, commonly known as "Revolicos" (primarily on Facebook and WhatsApp), where they closely monitored and selected users who posted clear offers to buy or sell dollars (USD).
2. Deception and Facades
"Ghost lines": To evade police tracking, they used temporary or disposable phone numbers that they referred to as "ghost lines," which they discarded afterwards.
"The blow or the quick one": To build trust and distract the victim, they used credible facades, pretending to be professionals like doctors, individuals connected to Afro-Cuban religion such as iyabó, and even impersonating elderly people to reduce suspicion.
3. The scenario of fraud and escape route
To carry out the fraud, the network used homes with pre-arranged facades, serving as "staging grounds" to mask the criminal activity.
Identified locations (for reference use):
-Aguilera between 1 and 2 West.
-Varona and 8 West.
-Beneficence and Jesus of the Sun.
- El Bayamo neighborhood.
Quick escape route: Once the scam was carried out inside the home, the scammer had planned an exit through the back door, where another member of the network was waiting with a scooter to flee swiftly with the loot.
The news of the arrest of eight individuals accused of scamming through the illegal buying and selling of USD in Cuba has sparked a polarized and visceral reaction in the comments.
On one hand, a large number of users expressed support for the MININT forces for their actions, considering it "good news" and a necessary step to restore "public tranquility."
However, this applause is immediately accompanied by an overwhelming demand for exemplary and severe punishments, reflecting a deep social frustration.
The comments call for a "strong hand," demanding sentences of "30 years," "life imprisonment," or even the need to send detainees to forced labor, such as "to clear marabou to boost agriculture" or the recurring request for a leader in the style of "Bukele" to ensure that "they don't go out on the streets anymore."
The most critical and frequent stance focuses on the perception of the ineffectiveness and double standards of the police in handling crime.
Many users, including scam victims, report being ignored or even threatened with prosecution for the crime of illegal currency trafficking when attempting to report their scammers.
For example, a user claims that when he went to the station, he was nearly arrested, as the officer claimed that if he filed the report, they would accuse him of illegal currency trafficking.
This distrust leads to questioning the motives behind the operation, suggesting that the police only acted because "it seems that someone scammed a relative or even a police officer."
Moreover, the indignation is directed squarely at the State, with comments accusing the Communist Party (PCC) of being the "biggest criminals" and of being the "government scam that is ruining the lives of the people."
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