Beware the Shell Game Scam on Santiago de Cuba's Passenger Trucks

In several districts of Santiago de Cuba, a cunning scam is spreading, carried out by so-called "shell game operators." These individuals travel on passenger trucks, using the notorious shell game to deceive both locals and travelers. This increasingly common practice in the province leaves behind a trail of victims who lose cash, jewelry, and other personal items, warned journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook, highlighting the impunity with which these con artists operate.

The scam follows a typical pattern: the culprits board the transport in groups of two or three, pretending not to know each other, and start placing small bets among themselves to catch the attention of other passengers. Once they have enticed outsiders to participate, they raise the stakes and employ techniques that ensure their victory.

The outcome is almost always the same: victims end up handing over cash, chains, watches, or other valuable items. "I've seen women who have to give up their chains and watches; it's unfair when that happens. But the police never intervene, and they know it well," lamented a resident of Palma Soriano, as quoted by the reporter.

Police Inaction Breeds Impunity

The lack of police intervention and the recurrence of these incidents in areas like San Luis, Palma Soriano, and the main municipality contribute to a sense of impunity. In a subsequent report, Mayeta identified Orlando Villalón as one of the repeat offenders. According to citizen reports, Villalón resides in the town of Dos Caminos, San Luis, and was recently released after serving a sentence in Havana for a fraud case.

Despite his criminal record, he was recently spotted operating on a truck heading to Palma Soriano, using the same tactics to deceive passengers. Victims describe scenarios where the shell game operators surround the unsuspecting player, control the flow of bets, and manipulate the shell's position to ensure no one else wins. In some cases, when a person lacks sufficient cash, the group's pressure leads them to offer jewelry or personal items as payment.

Social Crisis Fuels Rise in Fraud

In the current Cuban context, marked by economic hardship, fraud and impersonation crimes have surged in diverse settings such as hospitals, transport hubs, and public vehicles. This uptick in crime is not coincidental but a visible consequence of social decay stemming from the crisis. In Holguín, a fake transport inspector was detained after demanding money from drivers at stations and embarkation points, threatening fines while wearing a fake uniform.

Similarly, in hospitals in the same province, impostor nurses have attempted to defraud the relatives of patients during vulnerable moments. In one case, a woman was caught posing as medical staff to extort money for supposed urgent procedures. The scam included wearing white coats and delivering a well-crafted spiel, highlighting the level of organization among some of these fraudsters.

In Matanzas, a man was arrested after trying to use counterfeit bills in a store, a crime that is also on the rise amid the devaluation of the Cuban peso. Meanwhile, another woman was apprehended for impersonating an inspector at a state center, demanding payments in exchange for not imposing penalties, as reported by local media.

The sums involved are not always trivial. In Holguín, a man was accused of defrauding two million pesos by deceiving multiple victims with false promises of legal procedures and economic benefits. These increasingly frequent cases illustrate how desperation and the lack of institutional control have eroded ethical and legal barriers for some citizens.