They warn against falling for extortion linked to biometric CURP

In anticipation of the federal biometric CURP program coming into effect in the state of Durango, Public Security authorities are warning citizens to remain vigilant to avoid potential risks of extortion and digital fraud.

Public Security Secretary Óscar Galván Villarreal reported that training has begun to prevent these types of crimes, especially for 911 dispatchers and the state's C4 centers.

Extortion related to digital procedures, such as CURP registration, appointments for social programs, or applications on official platforms, have become increasingly common.

"Citizens receive messages or calls seeking to schedule appointments or make false payments, using personal information obtained on social media or illegally," Galván explained.

To counter this phenomenon, the state government is working in coordination with the Federal Government and the Ministry of Citizen Security on a national strategy that includes specialized assistance, cyber surveillance, and strengthening extortion investigation units. The anonymous reporting number 089 is now active, and 911 remains the immediate channel for reporting attempted fraud.

"We are in the process of training all involved personnel, from emergency operators to prosecutors' offices, to detect and address this type of extortion. People should know they are not alone and that they can trust the institutions," the secretary stated.

The public is urged to avoid providing personal information on public media, verify the authenticity of messages before carrying out any transaction, and immediately report any suspicious behavior related to the biometric CURP or any other federal program.

The secretary reiterated that the state is preparing to address cases related to the misuse of the biometric CURP, the program for which begins this week.