A Cuban individual revealed on Instagram a detailed step-by-step account of a scam involving identity theft, artificial intelligence, and Zelle transfers. The video illustrates how a group of criminals attempted to swindle his uncle, who lives abroad, into paying $4,500 for a non-existent car.
Published on Monday by the user "Amesito Te Quema," the story begins with a suspicious vehicle sale advertisement. Despite his doubts, he decided to investigate further. The scammers instructed that the payment should be made through Zelle and requested his nephew in Havana to provide his address, location, and a photo of himself in front of his home, under the guise of not getting "lost." The nephew sent his location and a picture of the house without himself in it.
When he refused to send a personal photo, the scammers took another route: "They grabbed the photo from my WhatsApp profile, snapped a picture of it with a phone—because they didn't take a screenshot—and using a strange number, they put my WhatsApp photo, albeit with terrible quality, and started messaging my uncle as if it were me, but from another number," the young man recounted.
Additionally, they used the house photo he sent to artificially place the car for sale in the image, making it appear as if it had been delivered.
To prevent the real nephew from warning his uncle, the fraudsters bombarded him with calls from 10 different numbers simultaneously. "I would start blocking them, and they would start calling me again," he described. He only managed to reach his uncle using a family member's phone to stop the money transfer.
His final warning was clear: "Don't engage in any business unless it's through video call with the person directly. That money in advance is useless. When you leave the notary with your papers, then you pay the money."
Increasing Frequency of AI-Driven Scams
This type of scam is not an isolated incident. In June, a Cuban woman residing in the United States lost $6,000 by purchasing an electric tricycle for relatives in Holguín. The scammers used artificial intelligence to insert the product into a photo of the house and included a known neighbor to lend credibility. In July, another victim nearly lost $1,600 in a solar panel purchase where criminals used AI to clone her mother's voice, falsely confirming delivery.
In August, a Cuban woman lost $1,900 when scammers hijacked a friend's WhatsApp and requested money for a supposed purchase. Just days before this video surfaced, a young Cuban woman reported that strangers had been impersonating her on social media for months using her family photos to scam others, a practice colloquially known as "perfiliar."
The pattern is consistent: an enticing advertisement with a below-market price, demand for upfront payment via Zelle, request for personal data from family in Cuba, creation of fake evidence using AI, and isolating the victim through account hijacking or call bombardment. Zelle, due to its near-instantaneous and irreversible transaction nature, is the preferred method for scammers to hinder any recovery of the money.
Understanding and Protecting Against AI-Powered Fraud in Cuba
How do scammers use AI in these fraud schemes?
Scammers utilize artificial intelligence to create or manipulate images and audio, making fake products appear real or impersonating voices to falsely confirm transactions.
Why is Zelle a preferred tool for scammers?
Zelle is favored by scammers because its transactions are nearly instantaneous and irreversible, making it difficult for victims to recover their funds once transferred.
What are warning signs of a potential scam?
Red flags include unusually low prices, demands for payment before delivery, requests for personal information, and communication through indirect or unfamiliar channels.
How can individuals protect themselves from these scams?
Individuals should verify identities through video calls, avoid upfront payments, and be cautious about sharing personal information online or over the phone.