In the United States, a Cuban woman named Aniela experienced a significant financial loss of $1,900 due to a scam. This deceit was carried out by criminals who hacked the WhatsApp account of her trusted friend, posing as her to request bank transfers under the guise of a purchase in Cuba. Aniela took to TikTok last Wednesday to expose the fraud, detailing her experience.
Aniela recounted that the ordeal began when her friend in Cuba arranged to buy an electric bicycle and a solar panel, collectively worth $1,400, from an alleged seller who insisted on receiving payment via transfer from abroad. The seller claimed he avoided cash due to having too much on hand. Unbeknownst to Aniela, the scammers had already seized control of her friend's WhatsApp account and reached out to her, masquerading as her friend.
The scam's intricacy was heightened by the fact that Aniela had communicated with her friend through video call and phone call before proceeding with the payments, never suspecting that the WhatsApp account had been compromised. "Honey, what scam? I'm talking to her on camera just now and we're texting, so where's the scam?" she retorted when her husband suggested she be cautious.
After ending the call, the fraudsters, who managed the WhatsApp account, sent her the details for the transfer. Consequently, Aniela made two payments through her Bank of America account: one for $1,400 and another for $500. The criminals even inquired in advance about her bank, indicating they tailor their deceit based on each victim's financial institution.
Her husband, persisting in his doubts, decided to call the friend directly, uncovering the fraud. "Did I say to send any money, to whom are you sending money?" was her friend’s response upon hearing about the transactions. By then, the scammers were already soliciting an additional $500 from Aniela.
"I lost nineteen hundred dollars because of the purchase tale in Cuba and the transfers from here," Aniela lamented, acknowledging the significant setback: "The hard work one goes through here to earn a few bucks."
Immediately, Aniela contacted her bank and filed a formal claim, though the bank warned the investigation could take up to 45 days. She conceded that since she authorized the transfers knowingly, it's unlikely she'll recover the funds.
This fraudulent scheme mirrors a documented pattern seen in numerous cases throughout 2026: scammers persuade someone in Cuba to share the six-digit verification code WhatsApp sends via SMS, enabling them to register the account on another device and impersonate the person to their contacts abroad. The most commonly used lures—solar panels, electric bicycles, and tricycles—directly address the island's ongoing energy crisis.
Back in June, another Cuban in the U.S. was defrauded of $6,000 in a similar electric tricycle scam, where criminals employed AI-manipulated images to fake a delivery. In July, another solar panel scam was reported, using the same WhatsApp hacking technique to request transfers from overseas relatives.
Understanding WhatsApp Scams Targeting Cubans
How do scammers gain access to WhatsApp accounts?
Scammers typically convince individuals to share the six-digit verification code sent by WhatsApp via SMS, allowing them to register the account on another device and impersonate the owner.
What items are commonly used as bait in these scams?
Fraudsters often use solar panels, electric bicycles, and tricycles as bait, appealing to the energy needs of the island.
What can victims do if they fall for such scams?
Victims should immediately contact their bank to file a formal complaint, though recovery of funds is uncertain if the transactions were authorized.