Los Cabos Warns of Rising Phone and Website Scams Targeting Tourists

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Last Updated 1 month ago

As travelers pour into one of the most popular beach destinations in Mexico, it’s only natural for some bad apples to try to take advantage.

That’s the case for Los Cabos and the surrounding area as the cyber police, from both the Secretariat of Public Security and the Attorney General’s Office, are sounding the alarm for increasing scams targeting tourists.

Los Cabos is widely seen as one of the safest destinations in Mexico, but safety is certainly no guarantee.

As the mega popular beach getaway has recently implemented safety protocols every which way imaginable in commonly visited areas, now the focus is on protecting tourists in the virtual world.

Increasing Tourist Scams This Spring

It’s well known Los Cabos is not the ideal place for budget travelers.

As one of the premiere luxury beach destinations in all of Latin America, travelers come here ready to splurge on the finer things in life.

That said, Los Cabos can easily become even more costly if you become a victim of an online scam.

The cyber police unit has been on alert, monitoring the web throughout Baja California Sur to better protect tourists from such threats, which extortion is the main cause of concern.

So far this spring, 15 instances of extortion by phone and online methods have been brought to the attention of authorities.

According to the active Delict Traffic Light security operation, these numbers have nearly doubled over the period compared to the previous year.

Secretariat of Public Security of Baja California Sur, Luis Alfredo Cancino Vicentere, stated experts in this field are, “working permanently to inhibit this type of crime, they are at complete disposal so that any citizen who wants to corroborate any veracity of any website can do so through these two units of cyber police.”

Verify Online Bookings

Local officials encourage travelers to use familiar websites rather than chase a deal that seems too good to be true.

Nickel-and-diming Cabo vacations can be more costly if the deal never exists, which happens more often than one might think.

Booking vacations through social media is never advised, while third-party sites can be iffy, too.

Running into fraudulent deals are more frequent on these platforms, so it’s always a safe bet to book directly with your airline, hotel, and tour provider.

Plus, not all the best deals are solely found on third-party sites.

As an example, the ever-popular Riu resorts offer great deals all the time that beat the average $500 per night across the board in Los Cabos.

Doing just a little digging through official websites can still save you cash while knowing you will definitely make it to the swim-up bar, infinity pool, and pristine beaches.

Not The Only Scams This Spring

It’s safe to say springtime is scam season as Los Cabos officials’ warning to tourists is not in an exclusive club.

With sunny weather around most of the world after a cold winter, travelers are jetting off far and wide for sun-soaked getaways.

Scammers everywhere want a piece of the pie at your expense.

Scams are so common right now; in fact, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a travel alert of its own.

Although, it is worth noting the alert wasn’t direct at Los Cabos specifically.

The FTC has urged travelers to follow similar advice, however, as online scams are in full force right now.

Los Cabos has also been experiencing another kind of scam unrelated to online travel bookings and may be a bit surprising.

Being such a luxurious destination, it comes with the territory that shopping is a main attraction.

Scammers are targeting Los Cabos shoppers as well by luring them into buying fake name-brand clothing at unbelievable prices, which should be the first red flag.

This luxury goods scam is becoming increasingly common, so it’s advised to follow your instinct when something seems too good to be true.