CFE Warns of Fraud Scams in Yucatán and Mexico

The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is alerting citizens about fraud scams in Yucatán and other states in Mexico, explaining the modus operandi used to steal up to 20,000 pesos, how to identify it, and advice to avoid falling into the trap.

The state-owned company, which frequently receives complaints about service deficiencies due to outages and blackouts in Yucatán that cause losses to homes and businesses, issued a statement to warn the population about fraudulent practices that alleged criminals carry out in the name of the organization.

This is a new form of extortion that endangers family finances, and a specific day of the week has been identified when the scam is most recurrent.

Although CFE indicates they have received more reports from the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Baja California, they warn it can occur in any state of the country, from southeastern Mexico, the Yucatán Peninsula, to the north of the country.

With the phrase “Don’t be fooled!”, CFE informed in a statement that, through social media and direct citizen complaints, users from different areas of the country have recently reported the appearance of false notices placed on private homes.

These notices are part of a new form of extortion in which people posing as CFE workers deceive users through false notifications of fines and service disconnection, which they promise to avoid in exchange for cash.

They Pretend to Be from CFE: Modus Operandi of the Fraud Attempt

One of the detected variants, they explain, consists of a uniformed person, dressed similarly to CFE personnel, going directly to the home, claiming they will change the meter as part of a “special operation.”

During the visit, the person pretending to be an employee of the state-owned company points out alleged irregularities or claims the meter lacks a seal, attempting to obtain cash to avoid a sanction or fine.

According to shared testimonies, the modus operandi is to leave fake notices at homes, primarily on Friday afternoons.

The messages appeal to a sense of urgency by notifying the user they have 12 hours to pay between 5,000 and 20,000 pesos, under the argument that their meter lacks a seal, lock, or presents some anomaly.

Furthermore, these documents include a fake telephone number, which they request to call “to solve the problem.”

During the call, the extortionists claim it is a serious offense or crime and that the fine is mandatory.

Subsequently, after the supposed deadline expires, an individual falsely presenting themselves as “CFE Area Chief”—some have even created a fake LinkedIn profile with that title—contacts the victim again, offering to reduce the fine and providing a personal bank account to make the deposit, thus completing the scam.

CFE Alerts About Fraud in Yucatán and Various Mexican States

So far, reports of these cases have been received in the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and Baja California; but they could be replicated throughout the country, so Yucatán nor any other state is exempt, which is why it is important to know this form of scam to be prepared and not be deceived.

Recommendations and Advice from CFE to Identify Fraud

CFE issued a series of recommendations and advice aimed at verifying the identity of those claiming to be CFE employees:

• Verify that the CFE worker carries an official photo ID with institutional logos and official uniform. As a user, you also have the right to request such identification and take a photograph as backup.
• Do not make payments or hand over cash to any person presenting themselves at your home: payments to CFE should only be made at authorized centers or through the state company’s institutional payment channels.
• Before allowing access to your home or making any payment, call 071 to confirm the veracity, providing your service number, a photograph of the meter, or the received document. Personnel can confirm via telephone if there is any legitimate order or procedure related to your service.
• Immediately report any extortion attempt: by going to the nearest CFE offices to report the incident, or, if applicable, filing a formal complaint with the competent authorities, as stated in the bulletin.

“Don’t be fooled! ⚠️ Prevent fraud attempts in the name of CFE. Take care of your security and trust only official information. ⚡”

What Is CFE Doing Against Fraud in Yucatán and Mexican States?

CFE announced in a bulletin that, now that they have identified the modus operandi, they have initiated a formal investigation against this type of fraud in Yucatán and the rest of entities in Mexico.

To document the alleged crimes, they are collecting direct information from affected individuals in the various Distribution Divisions.

Furthermore, coordination has been established with Divisions nationwide, meaning in Yucatán and the rest of Mexican states, to “identify common patterns, strengthen preventive measures, and design attention and verification protocols that allow easily distinguishing legitimate CFE personnel from false representatives.”

CFE specifies that they have already filed several complaints with the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and state prosecutors for this type of crime, which has resulted in the arrest of several involved individuals.