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The Consulate General of Spain in Havana warned this Monday about the emergence of fraudulent emails impersonating its identity to confirm false appointments, after several individuals showed up at its facilities with those fake documents for employment contract processing.
"Today, several individuals have presented themselves at this Consulate General with false appointments similar to the one in the image. This is a scam, and we invite those affected to file a report with the PNR if the events occurred in the Republic of Cuba, or with the National Police if these services were contracted in Spain," warned the diplomatic representation through its official WhatsApp channel and its account on X.
The fraudulent emails detected have the subject "Change Employment Contract Appointment" and appear to be sent by the consulate, with specific dates and times: one confirmed an appointment for 9:00 AM and another for 10:45 AM on the same Monday.
The text of the fraudulent messages includes the warning "Cancellations are not allowed through this channel," a phrase designed to exert pressure on the victims and prevent them from questioning the authenticity of the email.
The consulate was emphatic in reminding that the only valid appointments are those obtained through their official website and that "it is not necessary to hire an intermediary to secure an appointment."
This type of fraud is not new. Since May 2021, the consulate has prohibited the use of intermediaries or agents to book appointments, warning that those obtained by third parties are automatically canceled.
What has evolved is the method: whereas before scammers charged to manage real appointments, now they create emails that mimic official communication from the consulate to deceive people who come to their doors, possibly after having paid significant amounts.
The process of obtaining a labor contract is particularly sensitive given the increasing number of Cubans emigrating to Spain with job offers, in the context of a severe economic crisis on the island.
The high demand for consular appointments has created a breeding ground for this type of fraud. In March 2025, scams involving fake documents sold in Cuba —birth and baptism certificates— were detected, priced between 2,000 and 3,000 euros to simulate connections with Spain in the procedures of the Law of Grandchildren.
Despite the increases in capacity —the consulate increased weekly appointments for legalizations by 35% in February of this year, rising from 1,000 to 1,350 per week— the demand continues to exceed the supply, which keeps fraudulent activity alive.
The consulate has received 87,000 nationality applications as of April 2025, making it the representation with the highest registration rate among highly demanded consulates, with 56% of applications processed for Cubans seeking Spanish nationality.
Those who have been victims of this scam should file a complaint with the Revolutionary National Police if the events occurred in Cuba, or with the Spanish National Police if the fraudulent services were contracted in Spain.
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