Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) issued a nationwide alert on April 2 after scammers dressed as utility workers have been extorting homeowners for up to 20,000 pesos (roughly $1,050 USD). The fraud scheme uses fake fine notices, phony phone numbers, and even fabricated LinkedIn profiles to pressure residents into paying bogus penalties.
The scam has been reported across multiple regions of Mexico, and CFE said it is coordinating with all its distribution divisions to identify patterns and stop the fraud. Residents in Baja California, where many English-speaking expats and retirees hold CFE accounts, should be on high alert.
How the Scam Works
According to CFE and multiple Mexican news outlets, the con artists follow a consistent pattern. They leave printed notices at homes, typically on Friday afternoons, claiming the electricity meter is missing a seal, a lock, or has some other irregularity. The notice states the resident must pay a fine between 5,000 and 20,000 pesos (about $260 to $1,050 USD) within 12 hours to avoid having service cut off.
The fake document includes a phone number. When residents call, a person posing as a CFE area supervisor tells them the irregularity is a serious offense. After building pressure, the caller offers to “reduce” the fine in exchange for a deposit to a personal bank account. In some cases, scammers arrive at the home in uniforms and fake credentials, claiming to conduct a special meter replacement operation.
CFE confirmed that criminals have also created fake LinkedIn profiles, impersonating CFE department heads to make the scheme appear legitimate.
How to Protect Yourself
CFE outlined four key steps to avoid falling victim. First, every legitimate CFE employee must carry an official photo ID with current institutional logos and wear an official uniform. Residents have the right to photograph that credential. Second, CFE workers will never collect cash or request bank transfers at your door. All payments go through authorized CFE channels, including CFE offices, the CFE app, and authorized payment centers.
Third, if you receive a suspicious notice or visit, call CFE’s national hotline at 071. Have your service number or a photo of your meter ready. Fourth, do not call any phone number printed on a document left at your door. Instead, verify through CFE’s official website or app.
The 12-hour deadline is a deliberate pressure tactic. CFE does not issue fines through printed notices left at doorsteps, and it does not give 12-hour ultimatums.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte on April 2, with additional details from Excélsior and El Universal.