Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada issued a warning to the public regarding the growing risk of fraud and violent crimes related to the purchase and sale of vehicles through social media, particularly on platforms such as Facebook and Marketplace.
“This is an issue that has been occurring. The Secretary of Security said it, the Attorney General said it, I say it: alert,” the governor stated during the inauguration of the First Trade Fair “For Your Safety, United, Protecting Your Assets,” organized by the Ministry of Citizen Security and private security companies.
Speaking at Expo Reforma, Brugada warned that several of these transactions have resulted in robberies, firearm injuries, and even homicides.
“We are aware that there have been encounters (to carry out these transactions) that have ended in homicides,” she stated.
In response to this problem, the capital’s governor announced that her administration will promote the implementation of new secure vehicle purchase modules, in coordination with the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office.
There are currently two of these service centers, located in Cabeza de Juárez, on Avenida Guelatao, in the Iztapalapa borough, and another in Doctor Vértiz, in the Doctores neighborhood. Another is expected to open in the next 15 days.
“We want to have one module for each district, where citizens can meet to conduct these transactions safely (…) In the next 15 days, we will be opening one more in addition to the two already operated by the Attorney General’s Office,” Brugada emphasized, while urging people to avoid gatherings in unsafe or uncrowded places.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of Citizen Security, Pablo Vázquez Camacho, reported that so far this year, thanks to the work of the Cyber Police, six websites offering fraudulent vehicle listings have been taken down. In addition, the SSC has arrested 13 people allegedly linked to these crimes.
“Preventive measures are essential. We have had people injured after purchasing fraudulently attached items. That’s why we recommend using formal platforms and going to secure purchasing modules,” stated Vázquez Camacho.
Meanwhile, Mexico City Attorney General Bertha Alcalde Luján emphasized the need for self-care when conducting these types of transactions. She noted that in some cases, car sales arranged through social media have led to assaults with firearms.
“Our staff verifies that the vehicles have not been altered or reported stolen. Soon, you will also be able to change ownership in these spaces, free of charge,” she explained.
These measures are part of the efforts implemented to curb the theft of vehicles and auto parts, which, according to the Mayor, have yielded positive results.
In the first quarter of 2025, vehicle thefts in the city, both violent and non-violent, decreased 59 percent compared to 2019 and 4.4 percent compared to the same period in 2024, it concluded.
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Source: excelsior
