A Cuban woman living abroad has issued a warning through a TikTok video about a fresh scam circulating on social media. This scheme involves criminals using doctored video footage and cloned Facebook profiles to blackmail victims into paying hefty sums of money.
"Attention, everyone. There's a scam on the horizon, whether new or old, I'm not sure," stated TikTok user @lainet2022, visibly distressed as she recounted her near-miss with this deceitful trap.
She detailed how the scammers reached out to her via WhatsApp, sending a manipulated video featuring a child in "inappropriate situations," with photos of her and her family framed around it. They demanded $10,000 to keep this fabricated content off social media.
"They began calling me, bombarding me with angry emojis, and threatening to make my life miserable," she explained. "Initially, I blocked them, but then they contacted me from a different number, pretending to be a friend from my neighborhood."
This second attempt was even more sophisticated. The woman described how the alleged friend sent screenshots of a fake Facebook post with her name on it, subsequently introducing her to a supposed "detective" claiming to be handling the case.
"The man sounded like he was in a police station, with background noise and everything, very convincing. He instructed me to share my WhatsApp screen and guided me on what to message the scammer," she recounted.
The so-called investigator insisted she needed to send money "to catch the criminal," promising the funds would be held securely and without risk.
"He told me to offer $500, assuring me it was safe. But I don't have that kind of money, I said I could only manage $100. Then my husband, who was listening, messaged me on WhatsApp, warning that the detective was the scammer himself," she shared.
Upon realizing the deception, the woman blocked all numbers involved and reported the accounts on WhatsApp and Facebook. She also reached out to the real friend whose identity had been misused, who confirmed that her identity had been hijacked without her consent.
"It's madness, folks. I hope no one else falls for this. Report and don't send money to anyone," she urged in her post, which quickly went viral among Cuban users.
This warning is part of a growing trend of digital extortion and profile cloning targeting Cubans both on and off the island. In an environment where WhatsApp and Facebook are dominant communication channels, online scams have seen a significant increase.
Understanding and Preventing Social Media Scams
How do these social media scams typically operate?
Scammers often create fake profiles or manipulate media to extort money from victims by threatening to release false or damaging information online.
What should you do if you suspect a scam?
Immediately block the numbers or accounts involved, report them to the platform, and never send money or share personal information.
Why are Cubans particularly vulnerable to these scams?
With limited access to secure communication channels, Cubans rely heavily on platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, making them prime targets for scammers.
How can one protect against being scammed online?
Be skeptical of unexpected messages or requests, verify identities through secure channels, and maintain privacy settings on social media accounts.