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Venezuela (VE)

Oil-rich South American nation with dramatic landscapes from the Andes to Angel Falls and the Caribbean coast, experiencing economic recovery after years of crisis, with a warm culture and very low cost of living for dollar-earning expats.

Capital: Caracas
Region: Americas
Language: Spanish
Currency: VES (Bs.)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 10)
Emergency: 171
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Venezuela.

Venezuela has one of the highest fraud-risk environments in the Americas for foreigners, driven by severe economic pressure, a large informal economy, a complex dual-currency situation (USD and bolívares soberanos/BsD in parallel use), and limited effective law enforcement capacity. The most dangerous scams involve impersonation of government officials (SAIME, SEBIN, GNB, SENIAT) to extort cash, express kidnapping via pirate taxis, and WhatsApp family-impersonation fraud. Financial scams exploit currency complexity and the spread between official BCV and parallel-market exchange rates. The first 90 days in Venezuela are when most expat scams occur — building a trusted local network quickly is your most effective protection. Venezuela is NOT in SEPA; EU consumer protections do not apply. Emergency: 112 (universal), 171 (CICPC criminal investigations). CICPC (cicpc.gob.ve) handles criminal and cybercrime investigations. Consumer protection: SUNDDE (0800-LOJUSTO / 0800-5658786).

Express kidnapping (secuestro exprés) via pirate taxi

critical

Unofficial "pirate" taxi drivers (piratas), often working with accomplices, pick up a victim from the street or hotel, then either take them directly to ATMs under threat to withdraw cash, or allow a second accomplice to board the vehicle. Valuables, phones, and cash are taken; the victim is usually released. Some incidents escalate to serious violence. Express kidnapping is among the most frequently reported crimes against foreigners in Venezuela.

How to spot it
  • - Taxi was flagged on the street rather than booked through Uber, InDrive, or via a trusted hotel contact
  • - Driver insists on a specific unusual route
  • - A second person "unexpectedly" enters the taxi during the journey
  • - Driver communicates by phone in a hushed voice mid-journey
  • - Vehicle shows no official taxi markings or registration plate
What to do: NEVER take a street taxi in Venezuela — use Uber, InDrive, or taxis pre-booked through your hotel or a trusted local contact. Carry a "sacrifice wallet" with USD 20–30 to hand over if robbed. If you find yourself in a robbery: comply immediately and do not resist. Report afterwards to CICPC (171 or cicpc.gob.ve). Notify your embassy.

"Hola soy X" — WhatsApp family impersonation scam

critical

Scammer sends a WhatsApp message claiming to be a family member or close friend using a "new phone number" — "Hola, soy tu hijo/hermano, cambié de número." Once the victim engages, an urgent financial emergency is invented: medical bills, arrested abroad, stranded with no money. The victim is asked to send Zelle, cash, or mobile money. This scam is extremely widespread in Venezuela and among the Venezuelan diaspora globally.

How to spot it
  • - Message arrives from an unknown number claiming to be a known contact
  • - Immediate request to update contacts with the new number
  • - Urgency: hospitalisation, arrest, accident, or stranded abroad
  • - Requests Zelle transfer, cash pick-up, or mobile money payment
  • - Refuses a real-time video call to confirm identity
What to do: Call the alleged family member or friend on their known number immediately to verify. Do not transfer any money until you have confirmed identity by voice or video. Educate family members — especially elderly relatives — about this scam pattern. If victimised, report to CICPC (171).

Fake SAIME immigration official — "expedited" permit facilitation

critical

Individuals operating outside SAIME offices — or posing online as SAIME employees — offer to "expedite" residence permit applications, cédula de extranjero processing, or visa extensions for USD 300–2,000 cash. Some are SAIME employees acting corruptly; many are complete fraudsters who take money and disappear. Foreigners waiting for SAIME processing are routinely approached.

How to spot it
  • - Approach occurs outside the SAIME building or arrives via WhatsApp without a verified referral
  • - Claims "special contacts" inside SAIME who can speed up your file
  • - Demands payment in USD cash or Zelle before any processing
  • - Discourages you from attending the official SAIME window directly
  • - Fee seems unusually low ("cédula in 2 weeks for USD 400")
What to do: Use only official SAIME windows (saime.gob.ve) and pay fees exclusively at official SAIME cashier points. Hire a licensed Venezuelan immigration lawyer (abogado de inmigración) for legal facilitation — they have professional liability. Do not provide documents or payment to unsolicited contacts near SAIME.

Currency exchange fraud (cambistas / street money changers)

warning

Street money changers offer USD/BsD rates above the BCV reference rate. Common tricks: short-counting bolívar bundles using the "accordion trick" (flicking bills to miscount), inserting counterfeit BsD or USD bills, or agreeing a rate then delivering far fewer bills than agreed after a confusing counting performance.

How to spot it
  • - Exchange rate offered is suspiciously higher than the DolarToday / BCV rate
  • - Changer insists on exchanging in a hurry or in a poorly lit location
  • - Complex rapid counting sequence designed to confuse
  • - Bills passed to you feel lighter than genuine notes, lack security features, or have obvious printing quality differences
  • - Changer is resistant to you counting the bills yourself independently
What to do: Use formal channels: licenced cambio offices, Zelle transfers between trusted parties, or bank transfers. Never exchange currency on the street. If you exchange informally, count every bill individually before walking away. Carry a UV light pen to verify USD authenticity.

Fake apartment rental deposit theft (Caracas / Maracaibo)

critical

Scammers list attractive apartments in desirable Caracas neighbourhoods (Altamira, La Castellana, Las Mercedes) on MercadoLibre and WhatsApp housing groups at 20–40% below market prices. After negotiation, they request a Zelle deposit to "hold" the apartment. The apartment either does not exist, is not available, or the scammer has no authority to rent it.

How to spot it
  • - Price 20–40% below comparable properties in the neighbourhood
  • - Landlord cannot show the property in person — WhatsApp only
  • - Zelle or cash deposit requested before physical inspection
  • - Photos reverse-image-search to stock images or other listings
  • - Urgency: "3 other people are interested, I need a deposit today"
What to do: NEVER pay a deposit before physically inspecting the property and verifying the landlord's title (Registro Inmobiliario). Use a licensed real estate agent (corredor inmobiliario) for major rentals. Reverse-image-search all property photos. Report fraud to CICPC (171).

Fake police / SEBIN officer "tax audit" or "drug check"

critical

Criminals impersonating police officers, SEBIN (intelligence), or GNB (National Guard) soldiers approach foreigners claiming to conduct "immigration audits," "drug checks," or "tax investigations." Their objective is to steal cash, valuables, or extort a "fine" to avoid arrest. Uniformed and plainclothes variants both operate.

How to spot it
  • - Officers approach in casual or non-standard clothing without presenting verifiable credentials
  • - Cannot produce a carnet de identificación SEBIN/PNB/GNB when requested
  • - Demand immediate cash payment to "resolve" a claimed violation — no official receipt issued
  • - Insist the interaction must occur in a private location (vehicle, building, alley)
  • - Attempt to confiscate your phone without issuing an official seizure receipt
What to do: Calmly request official credentials (carnet). Ask to conduct the matter at an official station or in a public space. Call your embassy if detained. Carry a certified copy of your passport — do not carry the original. If robbed at gunpoint, comply and report to CICPC (171) afterwards. Report serious illegal detention to Defensoría del Pueblo (defensoria.gob.ve).

Pig-butchering cryptocurrency investment scam

critical

A new online contact (met via WhatsApp, LinkedIn, or Instagram) builds a relationship over weeks before introducing a "guaranteed" crypto investment opportunity. The victim deposits increasing amounts into a fake trading platform showing impressive returns — until the "platform" freezes and demands additional deposits to "unlock" funds. Venezuela's US-dollar digital economy makes crypto transfers easy for scammers to exploit.

How to spot it
  • - Online contact quickly moves the conversation from the original platform to WhatsApp or Telegram
  • - The recommended "investment platform" is not a regulated exchange (Binance, Coinbase)
  • - Monthly returns shown are unrealistically high (10–50%)
  • - Any withdrawal attempt triggers demands for additional "tax," "fee," or "verification" deposits
  • - Contact becomes aggressive or disappears when withdrawal is requested
What to do: Never invest in any platform introduced by someone you have not met in person. Use only established regulated exchanges. Report to CICPC's cybercrime division (171 or cicpc.gob.ve) and your country's cybercrime authority. Cryptocurrency fraud recovery is extremely difficult once funds are transferred.

Checkpoint (alcabala) extortion by GNB / PNB officers

warning

At military and police checkpoints (alcabalas) on Venezuelan roads, GNB (National Guard) or PNB (National Police) officers invent violations — "irregular documents," "incorrect equipment" — and demand informal cash coima (bribe) of USD 5–200 to "resolve" the matter without official paperwork. This is widespread on intercity routes.

How to spot it
  • - Officer claims there is "a problem" with your documents without specifying which article was violated
  • - Suggests a cash payment would "speed things up"
  • - No official fine receipt (boleta de multa) offered — payment goes directly to the officer
  • - Amount demanded increases if you show hesitation
What to do: Remain calm and polite. Ask to speak with the officer's supervisor (superior). Ask for an official fine receipt (boleta de multa) for any claimed violation — real fines must be documented. Some expats pay small amounts to avoid delay; others negotiate down or request the official process. Record badge numbers and report serious illegal extortion to Defensoría del Pueblo.

Fake SENIAT tax inspector extortion

warning

Individuals claiming to be SENIAT (Venezuela's tax authority) inspectors arrive at a business or residence claiming the occupant owes back taxes and demand immediate cash payment to "settle" informally. Real SENIAT audits are always preceded by formal written notification (acta de requerimiento).

How to spot it
  • - Inspector arrives without a prior written notification from SENIAT
  • - Requests cash payment directly rather than through SENIAT's official banking channel
  • - Cannot produce a SENIAT employee carnet de funcionario for verification
  • - The "fine" is a suspiciously round number with no legal article cited
What to do: Request the inspector's SENIAT carnet and the specific article number of the alleged violation. Request a formal written acta de requerimiento. Verify any claimed debt by calling SENIAT at 0-8000-SENIAT (0-8000-736428). Never pay cash to an inspector — all payments use SENIAT's official banking references. Consult your contador (accountant) immediately.

Fake job offer — work visa / MPPPTT fee scam

critical

Foreign nationals are offered attractive USD-salary jobs in Venezuela requiring upfront payments of "MPPPTT work permit fees," "embassy processing costs," or "certification charges" to a third party before starting. The job does not exist. Scammer disappears after collecting the fee.

How to spot it
  • - You were contacted unsolicited via LinkedIn, WhatsApp, or email
  • - Asked to pay government fees to the recruiter's personal account, not directly to MPPPTT or SAIME
  • - Salary offered is far above Venezuelan market rates for the role
  • - Pressure for immediate decision and upfront payment
  • - Company cannot be verified via SENIAT RIF check (seniat.gob.ve)
What to do: All Venezuelan work permit fees (MPPPTT/SAIME) are paid directly to government offices — never to a recruiter. Verify the company exists via SENIAT RIF at seniat.gob.ve. Request a formal employment contract before paying anything. Report to CICPC (171).

Reporting

Where to report: CICPC (criminal investigations, including cybercrime): 171 | cicpc.gob.ve. Police emergency: 112. SUNDDE (consumer protection): 0800-LOJUSTO (0800-5658786). SUDEBAN (banking fraud): sudeban.gob.ve. Defensoría del Pueblo (illegal detention, rights violations): defensoria.gob.ve. Your embassy — maintain contact details before you arrive and register your presence.

Consumer helpline: CICPC: 171 (criminal investigations and cybercrime) | cicpc.gob.ve. Emergency: 112. SUNDDE consumer protection: 0800-LOJUSTO (0800-5658786). SUDEBAN (financial fraud): sudeban.gob.ve. SENIAT (tax queries): 0-8000-SENIAT (0-8000-736428). Defensoría del Pueblo: defensoria.gob.ve.