In a recent development, 28 victims of banking scams have initiated lawsuits against the Banco Popular and Banco Nacional. The suits were filed in the Administrative Contentious Court by members of the movement “Gente Estafada en Bancos de Costa Rica”, led by Carmen Rojas Guzmán, a former Banco Popular employee who lost ¢9.7 million in a telephone scam.
Details of the Lawsuits
The first lawsuit, referenced under file 23-001992-1027-CA, was lodged against the Banco Nacional in April. It involves 17 plaintiffs claiming a sum of ¢400 million for losses, in addition to damages. The subsequent lawsuit, under file 23-003949-1027-CA, was filed in July against the Banco Popular by 11 people, aiming to recover ¢160 million.
The crux of these lawsuits revolves around the banks’ alleged negligence in safeguarding the funds deposited by the plaintiffs. The group’s press release stated that the breaches in security systems led to these financial losses.
Expectations and Future Actions
The “Gente Estafada en Bancos de Costa Rica” movement hopes to set a precedent forcing banks to uphold their supervisory duties. Furthermore, they are working on a bill to present before the Legislative Assembly.
The Origin of the Movement
The movement was founded on June 2nd of the previous year, two weeks after Carmen Rojas became a scam victim. Their Facebook page boasts 2,479 followers, with over 100 reported cases. They are preparing additional lawsuits against other financial institutions.
Rojas contends that the banks’ response has been to shift blame onto the victims, guided by protocols set by the Costa Rican Banking Association (ABC). When approached for a statement, ABC’s press representative did not respond. Meanwhile, Banco Nacional confirmed receiving the lawsuit, citing it as a confidential matter under legal proceedings. Banco Popular stated they have yet to be notified.
The Administrative Contentious Court intends to process these lawsuits individually, following which they’ll decide on the course of action against the accused parties.
Banking scam cases skyrocketed last year. 9,292 new cases were reported in 2022, marking a 160% increase from the 3,576 cases in 2021, according to the Judicial Planning Directorate.
Millionaire Scam within Minutes
On June 1st, 2022, La Nación published an interview with Rojas detailing how she was swindled out of ¢9.7 million in a 33-minute call. Tricked by familiar details and the urgency in the scammer’s voice, Rojas fell prey to a well-executed fraud, leading to several swift fund transfers. This unfortunate event was a catalyst for Rojas to form the “Gente Estafada en Bancos de Costa Rica” movement.
