Panama Registers Average of 18 Scams Daily in 2026 Amidst Surge in Cyber Fraud

Panama is grappling with a sharp increase in fraud and scams, averaging 18 reported incidents per day during the first seven months of 2026. The Public Ministry has documented 3,970 criminal complaints nationwide between January 1 and July 31, marking a 14% rise from the 3,482 cases recorded in the same period of 2025. July and January emerged as the months with the highest number of reports this year, each logging 575 cases.

The vast majority of these cases, 3,675 or 92.6%, fall under the category of traditional scams as defined by Article 220. However, the most alarming trend is the surge in computer program manipulation and fraud, outlined in Article 226. This specific type of cyber fraud has exploded, with cases jumping from 46 in 2025 to 190 in 2026, an astonishing increase of 313%. Notably, 119 of these cyber fraud cases occurred between May and July, indicating a recent and rapid escalation.

The province of Panama leads the nation in reported incidents, accounting for 57.8% of all complaints with 2,296 cases. San Miguelito district within the province reported 207 cases. Panama Oeste province follows with 526 complaints, a 33% increase from the previous year. Chiriquí province ranks third with 351 cases. While Colón has fewer total cases, it experienced a significant 29% rise, from 117 to 151 complaints.

Other regions show varied trends. Herrera reported a 6% decrease in fraud cases. The Guna Yala and Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous territories registered the lowest numbers, with only 1 and 3 cases respectively, both representing a 100% reduction from the prior year. The Emberá territory reported no cases in either period. These statistics underscore a dual challenge: the persistence of traditional scams alongside the rapid and concerning growth of digitally-enabled fraud.