A Network dedicated to scamming foreign tourists Interventions using babies as a means of emotional pressure occurred in the Miraflores district. According to an investigation by, the women approached visitors in tourist areas and persuaded them to buy large quantities of baby milk at prices in excess of S/900 panorama.
Despite police intervention and evidence, those involved have not been arrested and there are warnings that they continue to operate in other parts of the capital.
The fraud attempt was systematically repeated. The women presented themselves as mothers in extreme poverty and targeted mainly foreign tourists, taking advantage of the language barrier and lack of knowledge of local conditions. They carried babies in their arms – some very young – to reinforce the story of urgency.
The order was not made in cash. The supposed mothers They asked to accompany tourists to nearby pharmacieswhere they required the purchase of infant milk of specific brands and in bulk. The final amount of the purchases exceeded S/900, an amount that aroused suspicion but which many visitors were willing to pay in the belief that they were helping a vulnerable minor.
According to initial investigations, the purchased milk cans were later resold or returned to companies through prior agreements, allowing the network to make consistent profits. This practice was not isolated or spontaneous, but part of an organized system that was repeated several times a day.
Merchants and residents of the district stated that the The presence of these women was frequent and that the modality has been maintained for months in different parts of Miraflores.
The National Police several of those involved intervened after receiving repeated complaints from neighbors and traders. During the police operation, testimonies from victims, mainly foreign tourists, were collected and the mechanisms of the fraud were documented.
However, despite the intervention and the amount of evidence collected, the women do not continue to be detained. According to witnesses from the neighborhood, they remain free and have moved their activities to the center of Lima, where they would apply the same scheme in areas with a high influx of people.
The case raises particular concerns about the ongoing exposure of babies used in scams. Experts and organizations warn that this practice constitutes a form of Exploitation of childrenby placing minors in situations of physical and emotional danger.
Miraflores neighbors pointed this out Babies remained on public streets for hoursexposed to sun, noise and stress while being used to reinforce the deception.
Authorities urged citizens and foreign visitors not to agree to such a request and to report these incidents to the police or district security service. They recalled that there are formal social assistance channels and that no legitimate donation requires compulsory purchases or visits to specific companies.
About The Author
