In less than a week, a series of reports and public denunciations exposed different types of fraud in Yucatán, a state that has become fertile ground for operations outside the law.
El Diario has documented everything from deceptions linked to tourism, the purchase and sale of vehicles, alleged irregularities in real estate pre-sales, an environmental project, and even scams with alleged medical treatments.
Although there are cases of fraudulent operations from a longer period of time, those registered between February 4 and 10 set off alarms, as they show a pattern of property damage with local and foreign victims.
Irregular transactions in the purchase and sale of cars
Authorities reported the arrest of a 35-year-old woman for alleged irregular operations in the purchase and sale of vehicles through Facebook Marketplace.
In a complaint, an affected person said that he delivered a Mini Cooper and received a Chevrolet Trax that was later retained when a report of theft was detected.
Likewise, in another fraudulent act, a buyer claimed that she paid in cash and, days later, a person came to claim the car as hers.
The arrest was reported as a result of coordinated actions between the Ministry of Public Security (SSP) of Yucatan and the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) of Yucatan, with the collaboration of the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Campeche.
However, the victims are more, as a group held a demonstration to demand justice and point to the possible participation of a state official.
They also requested the eventual configuration of the case as organized crime.
Travel scam in Yucatan: agency accumulates processes against it
They say that a button is enough to show it, but in the entity, it seems that there is a complete haberdashery.
For some time, there have been investigation files against the travel agency “Lasen Travel“ and its representatives, for millionaire fraud that they would have committed to the detriment of dozens of retired doctors who hired their services and other people.
They handed over the money, but never took them on the promised trips abroad (Egypt, Jordan, and Israel), and to this day, they are still waiting for justice. And it is not the only case; they have already warned about other similar situations.
For this reason, this week, the Mexican Association of the Tourism Industry of Yucatan (Amity) warned of an increase in tourism fraud in the state and asked the local Congress to classify it as a specific legal figure.
According to the group, Yucatan is among the first national places in the incidence of the so-called montaviajes.
In addition, the agency reported estimated losses of 800 million pesos in 2024 and 850 million in 2025, associated with practices such as services offered without support, irregular intermediation and operations outside the norm in lodging and tours.
Alleged fraud in real estate pre-sale
A woman identified as Y.M.L. reported to the FGE Yucatán that she was affected by an alleged fraud related to the sale of pre-sale homes in Chichí Suárez.
According to his testimony, he delivered a layaway and a down payment, in addition to monthly payments, for a house valued at 2.15 million pesos; however, after more than a year, he did not observe any progress of work on the ground.
The complainant indicated that, upon reviewing the legal situation, she found that the property was mortgaged in favor of a third party, which prevented, according to her investigation – from completing the sale under the terms offered.
The case was integrated into an investigation folder, initiated on January 22, 2026, before the State Prosecutor’s Office.
Environmental project: workers denounce charges to integrate them into a program
Also this month, the complaint of around 90 workers of the port of Santa Clara was reported for an alleged fraud linked to a wetland and mangrove restoration program.
According to the complaint, the person in charge of the project is a former Yucatecan official, who would have charged up to five thousand pesos per person to incorporate them into the project, in addition to the fact that they would have been required to cover operating expenses.
Subsequently, the program was canceled, and pending payments were reported for days worked.
Scam in Mérida with medical treatment
The actress and influencer Esmeralda Soto denounced a scam during her vacation in Mérida, for an amount close to 30 thousand pesos.
The perpetrator presented himself as a businessman and offered him an alleged miraculous treatment for multiple sclerosis, which motivated the delivery of money.
Likewise, the complainant described a possible modus operandi supported by references and alleged collaboration of personnel from establishments in the center of Mérida, Yucatán.
As can be seen, Yucatan stands as a paradise of fraud, since the aforementioned are not isolated situations, in a few days reports of fraudulent operations in different scenarios (community programs, digital transactions, tourism, housing, and personal deception) accumulate and are documented, with public complaints and, in some cases, intervention of authorities and opening of investigations. Why does it keep happening?
Source: Diario de Yucatan
