Heads up ex-pat residents - phone scam

If you have a listed phone number please be aware of a scam that has been going on for months where someone who appears to be someone you know or even a relative contacts you either by phone or text message to ask for help. A common theme recently has been that they are involved in a vehicular accident and need you to wire them money. Acapulco has been mentioned several times that I'm aware of as the scene of the alleged accident, but it's possible other destinations are used. When you try to contact your friend by phone you find them unreachable (this may just be a coincidence). The person speaks and writes perfect English. You will be asked to send money to an Oxxo account (one of the easiest ways to send money around the country). It's not apparent if it's just coincidence you can't reach your friend or relative or if the scammer already knows this. I suspect it's simply coincidence. I also suspect the scammer may actually be in jail and that they have persons on the outside collect the money, either by coercion or they are partners. Extorsions and scams by phone from jailed persons is an old problem in Mexico.

These scammers have hit both Mexicans and ex-pat residents. The number of victims is surprising.

I'm aware of numerous complaints being filed with the "proper authorities" (Ministerio Público) but it appears the same scammers are still getting away with it. This matter has been written about in local and national papers, but it appears Zihuatanejo may be being targeted by a group going after foreigners with listed phone numbers or with phone numbers available on the internet, so I wanted to post a warning here since apparently a lot of our foreign residents don't keep up very well with local and national news in Spanish.

Personally I have caller ID on our home phones and we never answer if we don't recognize the number, though I have been known to "play games" with undesired callers from time to time.