13 fraud cases daily in Quintana Roo as scams surge

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Fraud and theft continue to plague Quintana Roo, with residents denouncing not only the rising activity of criminals but also the apparent indifference of businesses and the scant police presence in shopping centers and public spaces where these crimes occur.

Data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System shows that 1,544 fraud investigations were opened in the state during the first four months of 2026 — an average of nearly 13 cases per day.

In addition, there were 195 reports of robberies of pedestrians in public areas and a total of 3,653 theft cases in various categories, highlighting how these offenses continue to affect daily life in municipalities such as Benito Juárez.

One of the most recent incidents took place at a department store in Plaza Mundo Maya, in the Región 101 neighborhood, where a family accused two men of tricking an elderly man at an ATM in broad daylight, in full view of others.

According to the family’s account, two individuals approached the man while he was conducting a bank transaction. Although he said he did not need help, they manipulated the screen and carried out the theft in seconds before fleeing.

The victims also alleged a lack of support from the store and its security staff. Employees reportedly admitted they “already knew who they were” but argued they could not intervene because the ATMs did not belong to the business.

“No wonder they walk away so calmly. Be very careful when using those ATMs,” the victim’s daughter said, questioning the absence of protocols to respond to such situations inside shopping malls.

In a separate case, a woman in Cancún reported an apparent identity theft. She said she went to a department store to pay off a small debt and discovered she was listed as owing more than 170,000 pesos ($9,400) for purchases she said she never made, including iPads, a PlayStation 5, and various electronics.

According to her testimony, store employees only advised her to file a complaint with the State Prosecutor’s Office, offering no further assistance. On social media, several people shared similar experiences involving unauthorized credit, unrecognized purchases, and possible irregularities in identity verification processes.

“Coppel doesn’t give such large credits. If you had no outstanding debt and they’re charging you interest, check it carefully; they only give credit via fingerprint. Ask for the purchase date and have them check the cameras from that day,” wrote Elizabeth Gamboa.

“I had a debt of about 8,000 pesos, and when I went to pay it, I owed almost 100,000. That was over just three months,” recalled Ross Ruiz.

“They did the same thing to my dad, but with his address. The person who opened the account even had a utility bill from our house. They said they rented there, but my parents’ house is not for rent,” another affected person commented.

Meanwhile, citizens questioned how easily the perpetrators operate and the limited response from businesses and authorities. Although official statistics show thousands of fraud and theft reports in Quintana Roo, victims believe many cases go unreported due to distrust or the belief that justice is unlikely.