The Judicial Investigation Agency issued an alert for the so-called “suitcase scam”.
What’s the modus operandi? The criminals call a hotel. They claim to be a foreigner who will stay there, but needs help because they are far from the area and must pick up some suitcases at the airport. Immediately afterwards, they offer a good reward to pick up their luggage.
Once the innocent victim accepts, the alleged foreigner gives a telephone number assuring it belongs to the baggage handlers at the airport, and asks the hotelier to call and coordinate the delivery of the suitcases.
When they call, they are told to pay ¢ 60,000 for the luggage. The foreigner then asks for help with this payment, by means of deposit the money in X account and promises to pay it back upon check in at the hotel… That never happens.
At least three people related to the hotel industry have been scammed like this.
That is why the fraud investigation section of the Judicial Investigation Agency is issuing a warning.
At the moment, they investigate the case but ask people to be very attentive. Any information you have, you can report it to the confidential line 800-8000-645.