Man, 28, sentenced to prison for $2.5 million 'uncle trick' scam

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison, with effective jail time, for his involvement in a "cuento del tío" scam that defrauded an elderly woman of over $2.5 million. The man was convicted as a co-perpetrator in four counts of aggravated fraud.

The investigation began after a 77-year-old woman reported the incident on July 10, 2026, in Punta del Este. She had received a phone call from individuals posing as lawyers, who falsely informed her that a relative had been in a serious traffic accident and required immediate payment. Deceived by the story, the victim withdrew a significant amount of cash and handed over gold jewelry to a scammer.

Authorities estimate the victim lost approximately $1.3 million and US$25,300, with the value of the jewelry pushing the total loss over $2.5 million. The investigation led to the identification and arrest of two women, aged 34 and 31, in Montevideo. They were apprehended during raids where police seized jewelry, foreign currency, and wigs used in the criminal operation. The 31-year-old woman received a 22-month sentence, while the 34-year-old was sentenced to 24 months, with 18 months of effective prison time.

The third individual, the 28-year-old man with a prior criminal record, was apprehended on August 28, 2026, at his home in Colonia Nicolich. Police confiscated a car, US$200, and $6,000 during the arrest. He was subsequently convicted by a Maldonado court for four counts of aggravated fraud and one count of criminal association.