Beware: Blood Donation Scams in Chetumal

In Chetumal, a new type of scam is emerging where fraudsters are exploiting the need for blood donations. The residents of Othón P. Blanco have identified this new scheme where scammers pretend to offer blood donations, asking for payment in advance via bank transfers. After receiving the money, they sever all contact with the individuals who requested the donation, taking advantage of their vulnerable state due to hospitalization.

These scammers primarily operate on social media platforms, where they search for posts from people in need of blood donors. They then reach out to offer their services, asking for varying amounts of money per unit of blood to be donated. The amount requested can range from 250 to 500 or even 1000 pesos, depending on the urgency of the donation. Social media platforms play a crucial role in the scammers' operations.

A recent case in Chetumal highlighted this new scam. The family of a hospitalized patient requested blood donors and was approached by an individual who claimed that he, along with four others, could donate the required units of blood. However, they were supposedly located in the Lázaro Cárdenas community in the Bacalar municipality and needed 400 pesos each for travel expenses to the capital city. The family offered to travel to Lázaro Cárdenas and bring them back after the donation, but the scammer refused. This refusal raised suspicions, leading the family to realize they were being scammed, a trap they fortunately did not fall into.