Colombian Pensioners Targeted in Elaborate Fraud Scheme, Facing Millions in False Debt
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A disturbing pattern of fraudulent financial claims is impacting vulnerable pensioners in Colombia, with one woman in Santa Marta facing an unauthorized embargo of her pension due to a fabricated debt. The alleged scheme involves the creation of false credit agreements – known as libranzas – using stolen data and forged signatures, raising concerns about potential complicity within the judicial system.
A Pensioner’s nightmare: The Case of Cortés Granados
The victim, identified as Cortés Granados, was shocked to discover an embargo on her pension for 25 million pesos, a debt she vehemently denies. “I have never signed a loan for twenty-five thousand pesos,” Cortés Granados told WEEK. “When I review, I will appear with my name, but that is not my signature, that is not my footprint, that is not any kind of my letter.It is completely fraudulent.”
The cooperative in question, identified as a multi-active cooperative union of advisors, is allegedly run by Richard Javier Sosa Pedraza, who serves as both the legal representative and the lawyer pursuing the debt. Cortés Granados insists she has no knowledge of Sosa or any business dealings in Barranquilla,despite documents claiming she resides in the nearby town of Soledad.
A Network of Fraudulent Claims
Cortés Granados’ case appears to be far from isolated. Investigations reveal a potentially widespread network exploiting pensioners through fraudulent libranzas. According to reports, the scheme operates by illegally acquiring databases from other cooperatives, digitally replicating pensioners’ signatures onto promissory notes, and then filing legal demands for payment. “This is a network of fraudulent libranzas that illegally buy databases from other cooperatives,” Cortés Granados explained. “They scan the firm of pensioners, assemble it digitally in a promissory note and present executive demands. The judge admits them and orders the embargoes.”
The alleged fraud extends beyond the initial debt amount. In Cortés Granados’ case,a judge increased the claimed debt from 25 million to 37 million pesos,adding a 50% surcharge permitted by law. She further alleges that the cooperative is accepting digital copies of documents as legal proof, without requiring originals.
Systemic Issues and Potential Complicity
Concerns are mounting regarding the scale and sophistication of the operation. The complainant alleges the cooperative is a “garage cooperative,” established with a minimal capital investment of just 10 million pesos, raising questions about its legitimacy and oversight by the Superintendence of Solidarity Economy.
More alarmingly, Cortés Granados and her legal counsel have discovered a repetitive pattern in the judicial branch database, identifying over a thousand similar cases in Atlantic and Barranquilla involving the same scheme. Other entities, including Cooproductos and Creditral Multiactiva, are also reportedly linked to Sosa. “It’s not just with me,” she stated. “There are more than a thousand processes in Atlantic and Barranquilla with the same scheme.”
The woman fears that complicity extends beyond the cooperative itself,potentially involving judges and other judicial officials. “It cannot be that since 2006 these processes are coming without being arrested,” she said. She also revealed that she was included on a promissory note alongside another woman,despite never signing any loan agreements.
Urgent Action and a Call for Vigilance
Cortés Granados, along with her lawyer, has filed a challenge to the seizure order with a judge in Soledad, demanding verification of the cooperative’s documents. They are also preparing a criminal complaint to be filed with the Attorney General’s Office and the Superintendence of Solidarity Economy. “This is not an isolated case, it is a systematic business against vulnerable pensioners. We want to investigate and punish those behind,” she concluded.
WEEK reached out to the cooperative for comment but received no response prior to publication. Cortés Granados is urging fellow citizens to carefully review their pension statements and remain vigilant against potential scams, especially in areas like Malambo and Soledad, where reports of fraudulent lawyers operating with fake credentials have surfaced.
