Online Scams in Havana

Jinetero Romance and Friendship Scam

Cubans — male or female — befriend solo tourists on El Malecón or in Habana Vieja, quickly establishing an intense personal connection over hours or days. The relationship is engineered to extract money, gifts, phone top-up credit (recargas), or expensive meals before the tourist leaves. Some jineteras (female touts) specifically target male solo travelers for short-term romantic relationships that culminate in requests for funds to cover a family emergency, rent, or travel documents.