Church warns of phone extortion scam in southern Quintana Roo

Chetumal. The Catholic Church in southern Quintana Roo has issued an alert to priests, collaborators, and the faithful regarding a telephone extortion attempt.

According to the information gathered, a parish secretary received a phone call in which the person falsely identified themselves as “Father Juan Carlos,” claiming to be calling from the Diocese of Cancun. During the communication, the caller stated that two supposed packages related to sacramental procedures would arrive and immediately requested a deposit of 98,000 pesos to release them.

“This incident presents clear characteristics of an extortion attempt, as it involved the improper use of names, positions, and religious information with the intention of generating pressure, urgency, and confusion. The ecclesiastical authority clarifies that no financial requests are made by phone or through messages, and that any procedure or requirement is managed solely through the established official channels,” was stated in an official communication from the ecclesiastical authority.

It was specified that the dissemination of this alert is being done preventively, considering that there is information available on social networks related to the logistics and activities of priests, particularly in the context of the funeral services for the Bishop, an event that various priests will attend.

“This type of information can be improperly used by outsiders to commit fraud,” warns the communication.

The alert requests that in this situation, parish secretaries, administrative staff, and the faithful are urged to remain vigilant, not provide personal or institutional data, not make deposits or transfers, and immediately report any suspicious calls to the corresponding authorities and their immediate superiors.

The Church reiterates its call for prevention, verification of information, and timely communication as fundamental measures to protect the community and avoid becoming victims of criminal practices.