A Cuban woman took to social media to expose a scam she encountered while purchasing food from a street vendor in Havana. Identified on Instagram as marilyndalop, she shared a video recounting her experience and urged others to spread the word to prevent similar incidents.
In the video, Marilyn demonstrated a small digital scale commonly used by vendors, which can display the weight of goods in kilograms, pounds, or ounces. The issue lies in the tiny letters indicating the unit of measurement, positioned discreetly beneath the weight number. "They set it to ounces, and you can easily lose two, three, or even five pounds," she explained.
According to Marilyn, the vendor quickly shows the customer the scale, allowing only enough time to glimpse the number. Instead of displaying the weight in pounds, it shows in ounces, resulting in a higher number and an inflated charge. "I really feel for the elderly because a pound of tomatoes currently costs 500 pesos. If they add two extra pounds, that's 1,000 pesos. Life is tough enough without falling victim to such scams," she lamented. The video has since gone viral.
Dozens of people have commented, with many confirming they have been similarly deceived. "That's a crucial insight, seeing how something seemingly insignificant can be a blatant scam you don't even notice!" one person remarked.
"Every time I go shopping, I bring my own scale, just like theirs, and keep it in hand for them to see," another added emphatically.
"And some vendors get upset when you politely ask to see the scale... it's good to call them out," commented a third.
Understanding the Cuban Weight Scale Scam
How do street vendors in Cuba manipulate the scale?
Vendors may set the scale to display weight in ounces instead of pounds, leading to a larger number and overcharging the customer.
What can buyers do to avoid being scammed?
Buyers can bring their own scale to verify the weight or insist on checking the vendor's scale closely to ensure the correct unit of measurement is used.
Why is this scam particularly concerning for the elderly?
The elderly may be more vulnerable to this scam due to limited vision or understanding of the scale's display, leading to significant financial loss in a country where many are already struggling.