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The Cuba-Petroleum Union (CUPET) issued an official scam alert on its social media, warning the public about an identity theft operation that uses the name, logo, and institutional image of the state-owned company to sell alleged liquefied gas canisters for U.S. dollars.
According to the statement, the scammers created a website under the domain cubacupet.rdi.store, a WhatsApp channel named "Cuba_Cupet," and a WhatsApp group called "Gas_Licuado," through which they offer LP gas cylinders for $30 USD for 10 kg, $50 USD for 20 kg, and $110 USD for 45 kg.
"The Cuba-Petroleum Union informs the public that attempts at identity theft have been detected through the creation of a digital site and a WhatsApp channel under the name Cuba_Cupet, which offers liquefied gas canisters and other products in USD," the official notice states.
In addition to gas, the fraudulent site offers solar panel kits, food, and other essential goods, presenting itself as a legitimate e-commerce store that includes a direct contact button via WhatsApp.
Scammers also fraudulently use the image of the General Director of CUPET, Edrey Rocha González, to create an appearance of legitimacy for their business operations, as reported by the company itself.
The WhatsApp channel "Cuba_Cupet" was created on June 1, 2026 and had only 55 followers at the time of the alert.
On that channel, messages were published such as: "Dear Cupet customer, we will be delivering your liquefied gas orders throughout the day, as we do every Tuesday and Friday."
On Telegram, the same channel circulated an alleged institutional statement inviting people to place orders through the fake site and provided a contact number for payments: 53 5 8834122.
CUPET was unequivocal in its response: "It has no connection whatsoever with the aforementioned sites and channels. All official communication is conducted exclusively through the organization's institutional channels."
This is not the first time the company has faced this type of fraud. On May 23, CUPET had already warned about another fake website under the name "GasCuba" that was selling gas at similar prices and accepted payments via MLC, Zelle, and PayPal, suggesting that the scammers operate systematically, creating new sites when the previous ones are reported.
The pattern reveals a real crisis: the price of gas canisters in the Cuban informal market has risen from $24 to $50 USD in recent weeks, and the government has indefinitely suspended distribution in the eastern part of the country since January 2026.
Structural scarcity has deeper roots: in April 2025, CUPET acknowledged that no liquefied gas shipments had arrived in the country, and in March 2026, the government expanded the “street gas” service in Havana as a temporary measure to address power outages and the lack of LPG.
CUPET urged the public not to make payments or share personal information in these fraudulent spaces, to always verify information through the organization’s official channels, and to "report any attempts at digital scams to the relevant authorities."
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