UPDATE: New research reveals that scams plague Mexico at an alarming rate, with victims encountering fraud every four days. A study conducted by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and released on November 3, 2025, indicates that over 75% of Mexican adults have fallen prey to scams, resulting in an astonishing average of 86 scam encounters per person annually.
This urgent issue affects nearly 60% of Mexican adults who reported being scammed within the last year, with each victim experiencing fraud an average of 1.8 times. The financial toll is severe, as shopping scams (55%), investment scams (48%), and unexpected money scams (47%) are the most common forms of fraud, often leading to significant financial losses.
The study highlights that over one-third of Mexican adults have lost money to scams in the past year, with scammers primarily utilizing wire or bank transfers (55%) and debit card payments (21%) to receive funds. Alarmingly, among those who reported being scammed, two-thirds contacted their payment service, yet only half were unable to recover any lost money.
Despite the widespread nature of these scams, 12% of adults encounter fraud multiple times each week. Over the past year, more than half of those who experienced a scam reported it, yet 37% stated that no action was taken, leaving many feeling helpless. The lack of confidence in reporting scams is evident, as 50% of individuals who did not report their encounters cited uncertainty about where to go for help.
The emotional toll on victims is profound, leading to increased vigilance among the population. A staggering 97% of Mexican adults now take at least one precaution to verify the legitimacy of offers, with 36% relying on online reviews as their first line of defense against scams.
Calls for accountability are rising, with one-third of adults believing that full restitution should be the primary penalty for scammers. Others advocate for harsher punishments, including prison sentences of 6 to 10 years or more.
Sissi de la Peña, Director of GASA Chapter Mexico, commented,
“These findings show both the scale of the challenge and the resilience of the Mexican people. Despite facing scams every few days, most adults are taking steps to verify information and protect themselves. Now it is time for organizations, regulators, and companies to match that vigilance with concrete measures to make Mexico a safer place online.”
As the situation continues to develop, the urgent need for stronger protections and consequences against scammers in Mexico has never been clearer. Readers are encouraged to stay informed and vigilant as authorities work to combat this growing issue.
For further insights, view the full report and join the upcoming webinar on November 5, 2025.
