Advance-Fee Scams in Peru
Classic advance-fee fraud targets Peruvians via WhatsApp and email with promises of prize winnings, government benefit payments, or business contracts requiring an upfront fee.
Part of: Advance Fee Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Advance-fee fraud remains prevalent in Peru, evolving from email to WhatsApp-based messaging to exploit the platform's dominance. Common variants include fake lottery wins from international companies, business contract offers from 'foreign investors' seeking Peruvian partners, and fraudulent government benefit notifications.
The use of Peruvian government branding — including fake RENIEC, SUNAT, and Ministerio de Economía references — adds credibility. Victims are asked to pay 'administrative fees' via Yape, Plin, or bank transfer to release funds that do not exist.
How this scam works on Peru
A WhatsApp message announces the recipient has won a prize in a brand-name lottery or a government economic reactivation programme. To receive the funds (often stated as S/. 5,000–50,000), a small fee must be paid for 'document processing' or 'tax clearance.' The fee is paid via Yape to a personal number and the 'prize processor' vanishes.
Business contract variants target small business owners or tradespeople, offering government procurement contracts that require a 'security bond' before work begins. The bond is paid but the contract never materialises. Some operations maintain contact for weeks, extracting multiple smaller fees to justify successive delays.
SUNAT impersonation variants tell business owners they have a tax refund of thousands of soles, requiring a processing fee paid to a personal account to release it.
Common red flags
- Notification of a prize or benefit you did not apply for
- Government notification arrives via WhatsApp or personal email rather than official SUNAT or RENIEC channels
- Any upfront fee required to receive a prize, contract, or government payment
- Instructions to pay via Yape or Plin to a personal number
- Urgency pressure: fee must be paid within hours or the offer lapses
- Each payment is followed by a request for another fee with a new explanation
How to protect yourself
- Legitimate prize schemes do not require upfront payments — treat all such requests as fraud
- Verify any government benefit notification through official portals at gob.pe
- Contact SUNAT directly at sunat.gob.pe if you believe you have a genuine tax refund
- Never pay via Yape or Plin to receive money — the direction of payment makes no logical sense
- Warn elderly relatives who are disproportionately targeted by prize and government benefit scams
- Report the WhatsApp number to DIDAT immediately
How to report it
- Report to DIDAT (División de Investigación de Delitos de Alta Tecnología) of the PNP
- Report impersonation of SUNAT at sunat.gob.pe
- File a INDECOPI consumer protection complaint if the fraud was disguised as a commercial offer
Frequently asked questions
Does the Peruvian government ever contact citizens via WhatsApp for payments?
No. Official Peruvian government communications use verified portals, registered mail, or official email addresses. Any WhatsApp message claiming government authority and requesting payment is fraudulent.