Paraguay Scams: Tourist, Online & Investment Fraud Guide
A guide to scams in Paraguay, from street fraud targeting visitors to online investment and job scams, with official reporting steps.
Emergency number: 911 (emergency) — verify on official sources.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Paraguay is a landlocked South American country with a small but growing digital economy, and its most distinctive fraud zone is Ciudad del Este, the vast border shopping hub of the triple frontier with Brazil and Argentina. Bargain-hunters crossing for electronics meet counterfeit and refurbished goods sold as new in sealed boxes that are switched at the till, 'grey import' phones that arrive blocked, short-changing and rigged currency conversion between guaranies, reais and dollars, and street money-changers passing counterfeit notes. Insist on opening and testing anything expensive before paying, and buy from established galleries rather than street stalls.
Domestically, fraud rides the phone: 'el cuento del tio' relative-in-trouble calls, prize hoaxes demanding release fees, WhatsApp account takeovers begging contacts for loans, and phishing impersonating Banco Itau, Ueno and other banks, plus wallet fraud against Tigo Money and Billetera Personal users through fake reversal requests and spoofed confirmations. Facebook and Instagram shops take payment for goods that never ship, social-media 'inversiones' groups run crypto Ponzis, and fake loan offers harvest documents and 'insurance' fees from applicants who receive nothing.
Paraguay's CERT-PY handles cybersecurity incidents, while the Policia Nacional takes criminal complaints on 911; formal cybercrime prosecution remains harder than in neighbouring countries due to limited dedicated legislation, which makes fast bank and wallet reporting all the more decisive.
Common scams
- Counterfeit goods and short-change scams in Ciudad del Este markets
- Online investment fraud promoted through social media
- Fake job recruitment targeting young workers
- Romance scams via dating apps and social media
Tourist-specific scams
- Taxi overcharging at Asuncion airport and bus terminals
- Counterfeit currency passed by street money changers
- Fake local guides demanding payment at tourist sites
- Pickpocketing in Asuncion markets and crowded areas
Online shopping scams
- Fake e-commerce stores not delivering goods
- WhatsApp phishing impersonating banks or government services
- Advance-fee fraud promising lottery winnings or unclaimed inheritances
Job scams
- Overseas job offers requiring upfront fees for visas or training
- Fake domestic employment ads collecting personal data or deposits
- Task scams via WhatsApp paying small sums then demanding deposits
Romance scams
- Extended online relationships culminating in money transfer requests
- Pig-butchering scams where romance leads to fake crypto investment platforms
- Hijacked WhatsApp accounts asking the victim's own contacts for loans
Investment scams
- Unregulated crypto and Forex platforms promising guaranteed returns
- Multi-level marketing schemes presented as legitimate investment opportunities
- Fake loan offers collecting 'insurance' and 'processing' fees upfront
How to report a scam here
- Call 911 or visit the nearest Policía Nacional del Paraguay station to file a formal complaint
- Gather and preserve all digital evidence before reporting
- Contact your bank immediately to block transactions and begin a dispute
- Report cybersecurity incidents to CERT-PY for technical follow-up
Local reporting & protection links
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Bank & payment guidance
Contact your bank's fraud line as soon as possible, reaching it through the number on your card, the official app or a branch, never a number sent to you. Explain plainly that you were tricked into authorising the payment, ask for affected accounts to be frozen and the transfer recalled, and request a reference number. If the money went by Tigo Money or Billetera Personal, report it through the wallet's official support line with the transaction reference as well — wallet funds can sometimes be held before cash-out. Bring a copy of your police complaint, the denuncia, when you file a formal bank dispute. If you shared codes or card details, ask about a replacement card and change your online-banking password; card purchases of counterfeit goods can also be disputed with your issuer.
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot all messages, profiles, websites and payment pages
- Save transaction references, account numbers and crypto wallet addresses
- Keep emails with full headers where possible
- Note dates, times, names and phone numbers used
Frequently asked questions
Where do most scams in Paraguay happen?
Ciudad del Este near the Brazil-Argentina border is a hotspot for counterfeit goods and market scams. Asuncion sees taxi fraud and petty theft. Online scams are a growing nationwide problem as internet access expands.
How do I shop safely in Ciudad del Este?
Buy electronics from established galleries rather than street stalls, insist on unboxing and testing the exact unit you pay for — box-switching at the till is the classic trick — keep the receipt, and check warranty coverage applies outside Paraguay. Change money at exchange houses, not with street changers, and count carefully across the three currencies in circulation.
How do fake loan scams work in Paraguay?
Adverts promise fast credit without checks, then demand an upfront 'insurance', 'notary' or 'first instalment' payment before disbursement — which never comes, or is followed by further invented fees. Legitimate lenders deduct costs from the loan itself; any lender demanding payment before paying out is a scam.
Sources
- National police and cybercrime portals (verify on official sites)
- FTC / Action Fraud / Scamwatch consumer guidance