The Public Ministry (MP) points to members of the alleged cybercrime structure called “Los Lauren Paleck” of deceiving older people with the alleged sending of suitcases with money from armed conflicts in the Middle East.
During six raids in Retalhuleu, Zacapa and Guatemala, investigators of the National Civil Police (PNC) and MP prosecutors captured on Wednesday, June 18, six alleged members of the financial cybetinhate structure “Los Lauren Paleck”.
Among the arrests stands out that of a woman, to whom the MP points out of offering money from armed conflicts in the Middle East to cheat adults.
The captured are Manuel “N”, 36; Manuel “N”, 63; Pablo “N”, 20; Ana “N”, 44; and Ana “N”, 49, who are syndicated by the crimes of their own fraud, money laundering or other assets and illicit association.
According to the PNC, the detainees contacted their victims for Messenger, posing as family or friends, to ask them to pay the supposed entrusted taxes and money sent from another country.
The PNC adds that on October 18, 2022 there was a complaint of a victim who made several monetary deposits for Q848 thousand 900 in different bank accounts inside and outside the country. The money supposedly was to release parcels and suitcases with valuables and strong amounts of money, retained by the payment of taxes.
In the raided properties, cell phones, deposit ballots and various documents were located.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor’s Office against Transnational Crimes of the MP explained that the capture of Jenifer “H” was also coordinated, because, according to preliminary investigation, this structure supplanted identities and contacted the victims, who were usually elderly.
Through social networks, they offered the shipment of suitcases with money, supposedly obtained from the war in the Middle East. For this, they were told that the shipment would be made through the La Aurora International Airport and asked them for payments for shipping, coercing them with fines and the threat of punishable crimes, the Prosecutor’s Office refers.
The apprehended used a scam modality that consisted of contacting their victims through false social networks. The main objective were older people, whom they cheated with promises to receive large sums of money.
PNC disarticulates criminal structure Financial scam called “Los Lauren Paleck”
In 6 raids made in Retalhuleu, Zacapa and Guatemala by investigators of the DEIC of the Department of Financial and Economic Crimes and the Prosecutor’s Office of Transnational Crimes pic.twitter.com/dzpvm2i1bw
– PNC of Guatemala (@pncdeguatemala) June 18, 2025
2025: 169 days of strong and firm work 💪
Update ✅
The capture of Jenifer Yanira Hernández Reyes was also coordinated. According to the preliminary investigation of the Prosecutor’s Office, this structure exceeded identities and contacted the victims, who were usually … https://t.co/ffw9c3xpul pic.twitter.com/bbtnkjhip1
– MP of Guatemala (@mpuchemala) June 18, 2025