Cyber Crime Unit Warns of Vehicle Reservation Scam Linked to Expomóvil 2025
Authorities issue alert as fraudsters pose as bank officials to deceive potential vehicle buyers.
The Cyber Crime Unit of the Public Ministry has issued a warning regarding a recently identified fraud scheme targeting individuals who booked vehicles at Expomóvil 2025. Investigations indicate that perpetrators contact potential buyers, impersonating bank officials, and attempt to convince them to proceed with credit formalization and vehicle purchases.
During this fraudulent process, scammers seek to collect sensitive information, such as passwords, PIN codes, or banking access tokens.
Citizens are urged to safeguard their financial data and refrain from sharing it with third parties.
Those who believe they have fallen victim to this scam can file a complaint at their nearest Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) office.
Expomóvil 2025, which commenced on March 20, will continue until March 30, operating Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sundays until 7:00 PM.
The National Bank (BN) has also alerted the public about these types of fraud and provided recommendations for citizens to protect themselves from potential scams.
Individuals receiving calls, emails, or text messages about prizes, promotions, or contests they did not enter, which request banking information, should recognize it as a scam.
Institutions typically communicate through official channels only.
Arnold Pérez, Director of Security and Investigations at the BN, stated, “Under no circumstances will any entity ask you to share data such as account numbers, passwords, or verification codes.
A request of this nature is a clear indication of fraud.”
Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring victims to make hasty decisions.
The BN advises that if individuals are urged to act immediately, they should pause and verify the information, as fraudulent messages often contain spelling errors, originate from unknown numbers, or utilize altered logos.
Such messages may also include email addresses that appear legitimate but have minor variations from official ones.
Additionally, the Popular Bank (BP) recommends that if individuals require transactions or vehicle separations, they should consult their bank through the appropriate representative.
Data from the Public Ministry indicates that from the beginning of 2023 through the first seven months of 2024, there were 4,776 reports of online fraud in San José, resulting in economic losses of approximately ¢5.219 billion and $3.3 million, collectively amounting to around ¢7 billion.
The three most common types of online fraud in the country include: farming, which involves creating fraudulent websites that mimic those of banking entities; carding, which targets credit or debit cards and occurs when an individual captures a third party’s card details while a payment is being processed; and vishing, known in Costa Rica as the false official call method, which is the technique employed in this case.
During this fraudulent process, scammers seek to collect sensitive information, such as passwords, PIN codes, or banking access tokens.
Citizens are urged to safeguard their financial data and refrain from sharing it with third parties.
Those who believe they have fallen victim to this scam can file a complaint at their nearest Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) office.
Expomóvil 2025, which commenced on March 20, will continue until March 30, operating Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sundays until 7:00 PM.
The National Bank (BN) has also alerted the public about these types of fraud and provided recommendations for citizens to protect themselves from potential scams.
Individuals receiving calls, emails, or text messages about prizes, promotions, or contests they did not enter, which request banking information, should recognize it as a scam.
Institutions typically communicate through official channels only.
Arnold Pérez, Director of Security and Investigations at the BN, stated, “Under no circumstances will any entity ask you to share data such as account numbers, passwords, or verification codes.
A request of this nature is a clear indication of fraud.”
Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring victims to make hasty decisions.
The BN advises that if individuals are urged to act immediately, they should pause and verify the information, as fraudulent messages often contain spelling errors, originate from unknown numbers, or utilize altered logos.
Such messages may also include email addresses that appear legitimate but have minor variations from official ones.
Additionally, the Popular Bank (BP) recommends that if individuals require transactions or vehicle separations, they should consult their bank through the appropriate representative.
Data from the Public Ministry indicates that from the beginning of 2023 through the first seven months of 2024, there were 4,776 reports of online fraud in San José, resulting in economic losses of approximately ¢5.219 billion and $3.3 million, collectively amounting to around ¢7 billion.
The three most common types of online fraud in the country include: farming, which involves creating fraudulent websites that mimic those of banking entities; carding, which targets credit or debit cards and occurs when an individual captures a third party’s card details while a payment is being processed; and vishing, known in Costa Rica as the false official call method, which is the technique employed in this case.
