Four people arrested for scams of more than RD$800,000

The Cyber Police Area Directorate executed four arrest warrants against people linked to scams carried out through social media, with amounts exceeding RD$800,000 to the detriment of several victims.

The operation

The arrests were made in the last 48 hours in different parts of the country and in separate cases, as part of the pursuit of technology crimes. Those detained — Issamar Vásquez Francisco, Ashley Nicole Javier Duval, Ana Margarita Fernández Polo and Breyli Martínez — were placed under the control of the Public Ministry for the corresponding legal purposes.

How these scams operate

The frauds were committed through WhatsApp, Telegram and social media, with methods including identity impersonation and fake investments. The most common pattern: an urgent message asking for money or personal data, taking advantage of the trust and speed with which people respond on messaging apps.

The practical takeaway

Digital scams are fought before transferring: verify with a call to the usual number, never share verification codes, and distrust offers of guaranteed returns. If the money has already left the account, reporting the number and alerting the bank immediately increases the chances of stopping the blow.