Cancún, Quintana Roo — Mexico’s Social Security Institute (IMSS) has issued a warning about fraudulent advertisements on social media that offer fake social security affiliations in exchange for payments to third parties. The institution said these scams put people’s social security benefits at risk.
IMSS Director General Zoé Robledo explained that the fraudsters offer registrations for fees ranging from 200 to 650 pesos (about $10 to $35 USD) and sometimes use pyramid schemes or nonexistent companies to simulate employment relationships.
“When we detect these irregular affiliations, the Institute cancels the registrations and the supposed beneficiaries lose their medical coverage,” Robledo warned. Any rights and contribution weeks obtained through such schemes are also invalidated.
As a legitimate alternative, Robledo reminded that self-employed workers can register through the Independent Workers program, which currently has nearly half a million members.
The IMSS said scammers promise quick and cheap affiliations but never make the required contributions after receiving payment. Victims could also face legal problems for participating in irregular registrations.
The Institute announced a campaign to prevent these frauds and urged people to carry out any procedures only through official channels. It also advised against sharing personal data, making deposits to intermediaries, and encouraged reporting suspicious posts.
