Protect Your Paradise:
Real Estate Scams on the Rise
in Puerto Morelos

New homes and opportunities are popping up everywhere you look in Puerto Morelos. With all this growth, there is also a quiet financial risk that affects anyone buying land or trying to get a mortgage.

 

The Hidden Risk in Our Paradise

 

In recent years, Mexican authorities like CONDUSEF have warned about an increase in real estate and credit scams in Quintana Roo, including the Riviera Maya coast.

 

Some people present themselves as “advisors” or “credit managers”, promising to speed up home loans or fix problems with land titles. Many of them have no official registration, no license with the state of Quintana Roo, and no real link to any bank.

 

When they operate outside the legal framework, the buyer carries almost all the risk. If something goes wrong, the “advisor” disappears, and you are left trying to deal directly with the bank or with a property that may not even be legal to sell.

 

Spotting the Red Flags

 

These fake advisors often promise things that sound too good to be true, like instant loan approvals, very low interest rates, or “special programs” only they can access.

 

They may ask you to pay a “management fee” up front or pressure you to hand over personal documents through WhatsApp or email. CONDUSEF has repeatedly warned that this kind of pressure, plus any request for advance payments, is a classic sign of fraud in Mexico.

 

A key step is to verify everything directly with the supposed bank. Most major banks in Mexico publish their official contact channels and branches on their websites.

 

If someone claims to represent a bank but you cannot find them listed in the bank’s official directory, or they refuse to give you a corporate email from the bank, treat that as a serious red flag and stop the process until you can confirm their identity.

 

Your Best Defense: Certified Pros

 

Your best protection in Puerto Morelos is to work only with certified, registered real estate professionals.

 

In Quintana Roo, real estate agents and brokers must follow the Ley de Prestación de Servicios Inmobiliarios and be listed in the official registry managed by SEDETUS (Secretaría de Desarrollo Territorial Urbano Sustentable).

 

You can ask your agent for their registration number and then confirm it directly through SEDETUS channels or the state government’s official websites.

 

A properly registered broker will also be clear about their relationship with banks and developers. Many work with recognized mortgage brokers or directly with bank executives, but they should be able to show written agreements or official emails from those institutions.

 

This level of transparency, plus a valid SEDETUS registration and a clear written contract, is one of the strongest protections you have against losing your savings or getting stuck with a property that has legal problems.

 

Direct to the Source

 

If you have any doubts, always confirm the advisor’s credentials. Ask for proof of their registration and their direct link to the financial institution. The safest bet is to go straight to a bank’s official branch or use their trusted online channels listed on the bank’s website.

 

Do not rely on someone who cannot prove their connection to a legitimate bank or who refuses to give you verifiable contact information. Your financial future is too important to leave to chance.

 

Extra Easy Option for Non‑Spanish Speakers

 

If Spanish websites make you nervous, you still have a simple way to stay safe in Puerto Morelos. Ask your real estate lawyer or notario in Quintana Roo to verify the SEDETUS registration as part of their normal due diligence.

 

You can also make it a written condition in your offer or reservation contract that:

"The agent must be currently registered as a real estate service provider with SEDETUS, State of Quintana Roo. Buyer’s lawyer will verify this before any funds are released."

 

This keeps the pressure off you and puts the responsibility on a local professional who understands the language and the system.

 

Why This Matters for Puerto Morelos

 

Puerto Morelos is seeing a lot of new residents, investors, and tourism workers, and everyone needs a place to live. This high demand for housing makes our town a target for irregular schemes.

 

Some involve selling land that does not have proper legal papers, such as ejido land that has not been fully regularized or lots without clear title.

 

By insisting on professional, certified help, we not only protect ourselves but also help strengthen the local real estate market. This limits the ability of bad actors to use the good name of banks or our town to run