CFE Workers Scam Yucatán Residents in Power Bill Fraud

Mérida, Yucatán — In recent weeks, multiple cases of scams allegedly perpetrated by employees of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) have been reported across Yucatán. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the suspects are actual CFE workers, as the utility company has remained silent and the State Attorney General’s Office has not provided updates on an ongoing investigation.

A Pattern of Fraudulent Activity

The scams are not isolated incidents. Reports indicate a recurring pattern of extortion and fraud dating back approximately eight years, when the CFE contracted an external company to verify electricity meters. Now, the utility has again outsourced work for household repairs, raising concerns about accountability. Allegations have also surfaced against permanent CFE staff allegedly involved in these illegal activities.

One recent case, filed with the State Attorney General’s Office, involves a resident of the Herradura neighborhood in Ciudad Caucel, identified by her initials E.C. After discovering her home had no power, she reported the outage to CFE’s customer service line (071) and visited a local office. Later, a scammer posing as a CFE employee arrived at her home, falsely claiming she owed 95,000 pesos ($95,000 MXN) and offering to “help” resolve the debt. In reality, the actual amount owed was only 9,500 pesos ($9,500 MXN).

Other documented cases include CFE personnel allegedly installing unauthorized devices (“diablitos”) to manipulate meters in residents’ absence, then threatening homeowners with legal action or service disconnection unless they paid a settlement.

Lack of Official Response

Despite at least four well-documented cases, the CFE has not issued any public statements addressing the allegations. The silence has left victims questioning the utility’s oversight of its workforce.

The State Attorney General’s Office has also not provided updates on its investigation into the fraud reports, leaving residents vulnerable to further exploitation.