The Ministry of Public Security (SSP) de Yucatan has issued a urgent alert citizens about the new modus operandi of criminals to defraud using tools of Artificial Intelligence (AI)this with the aim of stealing your identity and committing crimes.
This new method, which the agency has called a “digital trap”, is disguised as a trusted contact, and its main purpose is not to ask for money immediately, but to obtain your personal data to supplant you. Here we tell you everything you need to know to avoid being a victim of fraud in Yucatán and the SSP recommendations you should follow.
Scams in Yucatán, now with artificial intelligence: this is how criminals operate
According to the Yucatecan agency, the key to this scam is identity theft using AI for the voice cloning. According to the SSP Yucatánthis is the step by step of how they operate criminals to gain the trust of their victims:
- They use the image and name of someone you know: The first step is to pose as a close contact, using their profile photo or name.
- You receive a message from your acquaintance: Initial contact is made through a text message or messaging application (WhatsApp, Telegram, etc.).
- They speak to you affectionately to gain your trust: Scammers use personal and affectionate language, seeking an approach that nullifies any suspicion.
- They use digital tools to clone your voice: In a worrying development, they can use voice samples obtained from social networks or voice notes to generate audio that imitates your contact’s voice, reinforcing the credibility of the hoax.
- They ask you for a “favor”: Once trust is gained, the scammer requests help, which usually involves obtaining your information.
- They ask for your Personal Data: The ultimate goal is not direct monetary. Scammers seek to obtain sensitive information such as your CURP, address, bank details (which they will then use for the next step).
Scammers in Yucatán are only looking for your identity, warns SSP
The most crucial warning from the SSP is that this new digital fraud has a differentiator compared to other types of scams, since here they only want your identity and personal data, and then commit criminal acts.
It is very important that you know from the beginning that, as a first act, they are not going to ask you for money or anything related to monetary or economic activity, since with your data they can already access all your information, and so on:
- Impersonate you: Use your identity to open accounts, apply for loans or make fraudulent transactions.
- Extort your contacts: Use the identity of the first victim to extort people from their contact list.
- Commit crimes in your name: Use your information for illegal activities that will then fall under your legal responsibility.
This is how you can protect yourself from AI scams in Yucatán
Now, through its social networks, the Ministry of Public Health in Yucatán has issued a series of recommendations and suggestions so that the population can prevent and avoid being a victim of a crime.
In addition, it seeks to raise awareness so that people are more careful with their data and personal information, especially when browsing the web.
- Distrust: Don’t trust just because of the voice or the photo they show you.
- No answers to unknown numbers or unusual contacts.
- Be careful with your voice: Do not send voice notes if it is not absolutely necessary, as they can be used to clone your voice.
- Immediate verification: If you receive a strange message or call from someone you know, don’t use the same number. Call your contact by their regular or landline number to confirm that it is him or her.
- Key questions: Confirm personal details with key questions that only you and your contact know. (Example: “What is the name of your grandmother’s dog?”).
- Do not share information personalbanking and do not give details by message.
- If you are not sure, stop: Take a moment before giving in to any pressure or request.
READ HERE: They warn of new digital traps operating in Yucatán
Frauds and digital scams in Yucatán are on the rise
Yucatán is no stranger to the growth of cybercrimes. According to data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security Systemcomplaints for fraud and digital identity theft have increased across the country, especially since the rise of generative artificial intelligence tools that can imitate voices, faces or text messages.
Furthermore, according to a recent interview published by The Diary a Angel Pech Che, coordinator of the Cybersecurity Engineering career at the Polytechnic University of Yucatán (UPY)criminals are increasingly adapting to new technology, including AI.
“We have seen that Criminals use artificial intelligence (AI) bots by making human-looking calls“If we do not identify the difference we can easily fall into their game.”he explained.
Furthermore, just a couple of weeks ago, a new scam both in Yucatan As in all of Mexico, related to job applications; the phrase “We have seen your resume” It came by text message and even WhatsApp, supposedly being a job offer in which it asked you to access a link to know the details.
The scheme is through calls from international numbers, with sides of the United States and Canadawhose country code is +1. At that time, the SSP also warned about this new type of scam and asked the population to be careful with their information and not answer messages or calls from unknown numbers.
🚨 Beware of online job scams.
Do not trust offers that ask for payments or sensitive data.
Avoid being a victim of fraud. pic.twitter.com/Aikj3zsqJw— SSP Yucatán (@sspyuc) September 18, 2025
READ HERE: This is the new telephone scam that hits Yucatán and all of Mexico