Beware: Deceptive Job Scams Targeting Cancún Residents

Since the start of the year, several individuals have reported receiving up to 40 unsolicited messages per week through WhatsApp or text. These messages, sent from unknown numbers, advertise high-paying, no-experience-required, work-from-home job opportunities. Predominantly targeting the elderly, teenagers, and young adults, the scammers exploit the common desire to kick off the new year productively.

The advertised roles typically involve reviewing products such as clothing, shoes, or accessories, promising earnings of up to a thousand pesos for just four hours of work a day. Tempted by the lucrative offer, many individuals follow a link leading to a webpage where they’re asked to provide personal information, including bank account details for supposed salary deposits.

A different type of deceptive message has also been circulating, purporting to be from friends or family members in need of financial assistance. These messages claim that the sender’s phone has been lost or stolen, and they are using a borrowed one. They then request financial help, typically between a thousand and three thousand pesos.

José Interian Parra, director of the Cyber Police in the state, has urged the public to stay vigilant to avoid falling victim to these scams or having their mobile phones hacked. He indicated that identity theft via WhatsApp is among the most common occurrences, with many scams operating through sales groups where people advertise their products.

Parra noted that there has been a surge in WhatsApp account theft in recent months and the start of 2025, as scammers continually seek new methods to defraud and deceive people. This not only impacts the individual victims but also their families and social circles.

The advice given is to delete or block messages or calls from unknown numbers not saved in your contacts. If a message claims to be from a known contact, Parra recommends reaching out to that person directly to verify the message’s authenticity or requesting a voice message for identification.