HomeTopicsCrimeScam Alert: Kolbi customers receiving fraudulent text messages

Scam Alert: Kolbi customers receiving fraudulent text messages

The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) alerted its customers this week about fraudulent text messages sent to Kolbi cellphones that automatically added charges to the accounts of those who responded.

According to ICE’s César Alpízar, the bogus texts say “Llámame con urgencia” in Spanish and “Urgent, call me” in English. Customers who respond are directed to a pay-by-the-minute phone line and automatically charged for the duration of the call. Alpízar said the text messages are coming from international phone numbers in Africa and Oceania.

ICE is warning all customers not to respond to the text messages and to report them to an ICE operator by calling 1155.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Raids 80 Locations in Major Fuel Theft and Organized Crime Investigation

Costa Rica's OIJ carried out 80 raids Friday against an alleged network accused of stealing 654,000 liters of fuel and $1.5 million in cargo, with 22 detained.

Costa Rica Ransomware Attacks Rise 39%, Microsoft Reports

Ransomware attacks targeting Costa Rica increased by 39% over the past year, placing us among the world's ten most affected nations, according to Microsoft's...

Costa Rica’s Public Schools Have Lost 180,000 Students in Five Years

Public school enrollment in Costa Rica has fallen 16.5% since 2021 as births decline, while private schools have added more than 12,000 students.

Costa Rica’s Lesser-Known Juan Castro Blanco Park Prepares for Tourists

Construction is underway on new visitor facilities at Juan Castro Blanco National Park, a lesser-known protected area in northern Costa Rica, as officials work...

New Details Reveal Political Contacts of Producers in Costa Rica Money-Laundering Probe

New details emerging from Costa Rica’s investigation into alleged drug-money laundering through concerts show that two prominent event producers detained this week had recent...

Prosecutors Probe Clearing on Protected Land Beside Montezuma Waterfall

Inspectors found trees cut and a hillside terraced on 6,564 square meters near Montezuma's waterfall, including public heritage land. The criminal case remains open.

Credit Card Purchases Offer New Leads in Killing of American in Costa Rica

Supermarket purchases and a hotel stay allegedly paid for with a dead American’s credit cards have given investigators new leads in the search for...

Costa Rica President to Tour CECOT Days After Opening a 5,100-Inmate Prison

President Fernández will travel to El Salvador on Friday to tour the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the mega-prison at the center of President Nayib...

Costa Rica Weather Today Brings Dry Mornings and Stormy Pacific Afternoons

Expect a calmer morning, then afternoon storms in the Central Valley and Pacific, heaviest on the Central and South Pacific. Check Route 32 before you drive to the Caribbean.
Loading…

Latest News from Costa Rica

Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Car Rentals
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel