Puerto Rico launches "Puede ser una feca" campaign against AI fraud
Banking association, AARP and police unite to educate older adults as AI-related scams cause $1.4 million in losses and total fraud reaches $8.1 million.
File photoThe short version
- El Nuevo Día reports seven AI-linked cases caused $1.4 million in losses in 2025 while total fraud losses in Puerto Rico reached $8.1 million according to the FBI IC3 report
- El Vocero states the campaign targets adults over 60 who filed 161 romantic fraud complaints and uses fully AI-generated videos to show how real deepfakes can appear
- Primera Hora reports police received 744 fraud referrals from January to September this year representing over 87 percent of the previous year's total
- All three outlets confirm the campaign launched Tuesday by ABPR, AARP Puerto Rico and police urges verification before sharing information or money
Campaign targets AI-generated scams
The Asociación de Bancos de Puerto Rico (ABPR), AARP Puerto Rico and the Policía de Puerto Rico launched an educational campaign on Tuesday aimed at older adults. The initiative titled “Puede ser una feca” seeks to provide tools to identify possible deceptions before sharing personal information or completing transactions, El Nuevo Día reported.
According to the 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report from the FBI, Puerto Rico recorded $8.1 million in fraud losses. Among victims 60 and older there were 161 complaints tied to romance scams. Seven cases linked to artificial intelligence resulted in $1.4 million in losses, Joseph González, superintendent of the Policía de Puerto Rico, told reporters. The campaign uses the Puerto Rican slang term “feca” for lie or scam and was created entirely with AI to illustrate that not everything that appears real is genuine.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
La tecnología ha creado enormes oportunidades, pero también ha dado nuevas herramientas a quienes buscan cometer fraude.
Our translation: Technology has created enormous opportunities, but it has also given new tools to those seeking to commit fraud.
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Vocero. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Officials stress prevention and reporting
“If we arrive to investigate we are already late because the older adult has already lost their savings,” González said, according to El Nuevo Día. He noted that many cases go unreported due to shame or because family members are involved. From January to September this year police received 744 fraud referrals, more than 87 percent of the previous year’s 854 referrals.
Zoimé Álvarez Rubio, president of the ABPR, stated the fraud has evolved and campaigns must evolve with it. “We know that it is no longer so normal to hear or see something and believe it,” she said. José R. Acarón, AARP Puerto Rico state director, emphasized that older adults use technology daily and scammers exploit trust. The campaign will run on social media, digital outlets, billboards, buses and TransCita vehicles, El Vocero reported and Primera Hora reported.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree on the $8.1 million total fraud losses, the 161 romance-fraud complaints among those 60 and older, the seven AI cases causing $1.4 million in losses, the three partnering organizations, the campaign name “Puede ser una feca,” the use of fully AI-generated audiovisual pieces, and the core message to verify before acting. El Nuevo Día alone reports the 744 referrals received January-September this year, the 87-percent comparison to the prior year, the monthly average of 83 referrals, and the decision to launch the campaign early because of rising scams. Slight variations appear in quoted remarks and in the exact phrasing of police comments on citizen collaboration.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not specify how many total fraud complaints were filed in Puerto Rico in 2025, the exact number of victims over 60 beyond the romance category, the types of institutions most impersonated in the AI cases, or the average loss per AI case. No information is given on planned arrests, new investigative tools for police, or measurable targets for reducing unreported cases. Future campaign metrics such as reach or changes in complaint volume are not mentioned.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Official Aumentan los fraudes con inteligencia artificial en Puerto Rico
- Official "Puede ser una feca": Lanzan campaña para reconocer fraudes creados con inteligencia artificial
- Reporting Aumentan los fraudes con inteligencia artificial en Puerto Rico
- Reporting "Puede ser una feca": Lanzan campaña para reconocer fraudes creados con inteligencia artificial
- Reporting “Puede ser una feca”: alertan sobre estafas con inteligencia artificial en Puerto Rico
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día, El Vocero and Primera Hora all covered the Tuesday launch of the “Puede ser una feca” campaign and the FBI IC3 statistics cited by police Superintendent Joseph González. The $1.4 million AI-loss figure and the decision to accelerate the campaign rest solely on statements reported by El Nuevo Día.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.