The apprehension of five people allegedly linked to the theft of WhatsApp accounts to request money transfers, and the capture of six other suspects for crimes including fraud and vehicle theft, highlight the various types of scams under investigation in Panama.
The first operation, called Chat Scam, was carried out in Chiriquí and Panamá Oeste, where authorities arrested four people in the first province and one in the second. During the raids, the Public Ministry seized five cell phones related to the investigations.
According to the Specialized Superior Prosecutor's Office for Crimes Against Intellectual Property and Cybersecurity, the suspects unlawfully took over WhatsApp accounts and impersonated their owners to request money from their contacts through bank transfers directed to third parties.
In another operation, called Arado, the Chiriquí Regional Prosecutor's Office and the National Police apprehended six people allegedly connected to investigations for fraud, vehicle theft, and personal injury. The proceedings took place in the districts of Bugaba and David.
During the raids, technological equipment and approximately 3,000 boxes of contraband cigarettes of various brands were also seized. The investigations correspond to cases opened between 2021 and 2026, related to...
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Five people were apprehended during the Chat Scam operation, related to the takeover of WhatsApp accounts to request money transfers. (Illustrative image Infobae) The apprehension of five people allegedly linked to the theft of WhatsApp accounts to request money transfers and the capture of six other suspects for crimes including fraud and vehicle theft highlight the various forms of deception being investigated in Panama. The first intervention, called the Chat Scam operation, was carried out in Chiriquí and Panamá Oeste, where authorities captured four people in the first province and one in the second. During the raids, the Public Ministry seized five cell phones related to the investigations. According to the Specialized Superior Prosecutor's Office for Crimes Against Intellectual Property and Cybersecurity, the suspects unlawfully took over WhatsApp accounts and impersonated their owners to request money from their contacts, through bank transfers directed to third parties.
In another intervention, called the Arado operation, the Chiriquí Regional Prosecutor's Office and the National Police apprehended six people allegedly related to investigations for fraud, vehicle theft, and personal injury. The proceedings were carried out in the districts of Bugaba and David. The National Police and the Public Ministry carried out operations in Chiriquí and Panamá Oeste against people allegedly linked to property crimes. Taken from the MP
During the raids, technological equipment and approximately 3,000 boxes of contraband cigarettes of different brands were also seized. The investigations correspond to cases initiated between 2021 and 2026, related to crimes against economic assets and personal integrity.
These procedures come to light in a context of increasing reports of scams and other fraud in Panama. Between January and September 2026, the Public Ministry recorded 5,089 criminal reports, compared to the 4,515 counted during the same period in 2025, an increase of 13%. According to official statistics, common fraud accounts for 4,680 records, equivalent to almost 92% of the total. This modality went from 4,310 cases in 2025 to 4,680 in 2026, while investigations for aggravated fraud decreased from 125 to 110.
One of the most significant changes corresponds to the modification or manipulation of computer programs, which went from 63 criminal reports during the first nine months of 2025 to 270 in the same period of 2026. This represents a growth of 329%, according to the statistical report.
The province of Panama concentrates the largest number of reports of scams and other fraud, with 2,921 records during the first nine months of 2026. (Illustrative image Infobae)
The geographic distribution shows that the province of Panama concentrates 2,921 records, followed by Panamá Oeste, with 708, and Chiriquí, with 441. Also listed are San Miguelito, with 268, and Colón, with 184. These figures correspond to registered reports, not necessarily to proven crimes.
In the year-over-year comparison, Panamá Oeste recorded an increase of 28%, going from 552 to 708 criminal reports. Los Santos increased by 34%, from 79 to 106, while the province of Panama experienced a growth of 15%, with 387 additional records.
The Panamanian Penal Code distinguishes between fraud and fraudulent conduct committed through computer systems. The former involves obtaining an economic benefit through deception, while computer fraud may involve the alteration of programs, databases, or networks to obtain illicit gain.
The penalties also present differences. Following the reform introduced through Law 524 of May 2026, Article 220 establishes prison sentences of three to six years for fraud, with increases of up to one-third when certain circumstances concur, such as the use of computer means or identity impersonation.
Crimes related to the modification or manipulation of computer programs went from 63 records in 2025 to 270 in 2026. (Illustrative image Infobae)
For aggravated fraud, Article 221 contemplates prison sentences of seven to twelve years, while the manipulation of computer systems, regulated in Article 226, establishes sentences of four to six years, which can reach up to eight years under certain circumstances.
The figures from the Public Ministry reflect an average of approximately 19 criminal incidents daily during the first nine months of 2026.