Criminals have been sending fake Banco del Bienestar cards to homes with instructions to pay 300 pesos at Oxxo for activation of a non-existent “Apoyo emergente de Covid-19” program. The Secretaría de Bienestar has denied the program’s existence and stressed that all welfare registrations and card deliveries are free of charge. The fraud resurged on digital platforms in early 2025 after its initial appearance in 2024, and primarily targets older adults enrolled in social welfare schemes. Regional director Griselda Mezquida Saldaña warned of fake nurses in Ciudad Valles offering unauthorized medical attention and urged residents to stay vigilant. Beneficiaries are advised to check program details and find nearby support modules exclusively on the official gob.mx/bienestar website and to report suspicious requests immediately.
