How Scammers Use Reputable Banks to Trick Buyers

Online scams are not new. Yet as Belize leans further into digital payments and internet marketplaces, scammers are finding convenient ways to exploit trust in well-known banks. Many buyers are now second-guessing transfers and deposits because more cases are being reported.

But how are persons getting away with scamming customers using legitimate bank accounts?

Belize continues to push for digital transformation across businesses. The promise is convenience. A buyer sees an item online, pays for it, and the seller hands it over or ships it away to its new owner. But this progress also comes with risk. Fraudsters are using legitimate bank accounts as a cover. One recent case shows how quickly trust can be abused.

 

 

A latest victim told News 5 that he attempted to buy a refrigerator from a seller listing items under the name “Natasha Gloria.” The listing read: “Selling Samsung 427 litres fridge in great working condition, bottom mount, silver colour, no scratches and dents, no damage at all, moving overseas so don’t need it anymore. Delivery available for little fee.”

The victim shared screenshots showing “Gloria” saying: “If you want me to hold it for you until you come, you can make a small deposit and I will mark it as sold under your name so no one else gets it.” He was then given Atlantic Bank account number 2120011275, under the name “Ada Mirtha Medina.” Gloria followed that with, “Once you make the payment, please send me a screenshot for confirmation.”

He deposited $200 and travelled to the Orange Walk District to collect the fridge. After hours of delays and excuses, he received only a generic Google Maps location in Trial Farm Village.

“She did eventually send a pin location for the Trial Farm community. However, there was not an exact pin location for a house address,” he said. “If you go on Google Maps, for example, you can type in Trial Farm, and you can share that as a location with somebody, and that’s what she did.”

The victim told News 5 that he initially visited the Orange Walk police station, but an “officer there mentioned that I should go ahead and make the report at the Corozal branch since I’m from there.” He then proceeded to make an official report at the Corozal police station.

 

 

According to him, both officers messaged Gloria and received the same scripted reply encouraging them to pay a deposit. “They were being scammed as well,” he said.

The victim then reached out to Atlantic Bank on Monday morning. He said he was told that the bank could not assist. “The customer service rep basically told me that you’re not seeing that money ever again,” he told News 5. He said he was not given any guidance on what the bank could or would do.

News 5 has requested comment from Atlantic Bank.

This raises concerns once more about how existing banking procedures are being taken advantage of by online scammers. 

According to the victim, he has since contacted the Central Bank and has gathered evidence of others being defrauded.

A screenshot of messages between the victim and the Atlantic Bank account holder shows one “Ada Mirtha Medina” telling him, “I am above the law you can’t do anything idiot… I am terrorist I can do what I want.”

 

 

Meanwhile, a search on social media shows several other victims, including one report from a year ago.

The man said he is a regular online shopper and had never been scammed before. He told News 5, “I think that the general public will always look down on people buying online because they don’t trust it. But those things are available to us, and not everybody’s out there scamming.”

He added that banks should take more responsibility and address this ongoing problem with more clarity.

“Something needs to happen where these banking institutions take a little bit more responsibility for folks that are shopping online. Because everybody’s encouraging it. Even the banks are posting around to get your loan for the season to do your Christmas shopping, but then they’re also okay with fraud happening,” he said.