Mexican comedian discovers voter ID fraud led to years
Javier Carranza, known as ‘El Costeño’, discovered that someone used his lost voter ID card to register two vehicles in his name without his knowledge. The comedian, a regular on La hora pico and Guerra de chistes, first noticed the issue when applying for a bank loan and found his credit history marred by debts he did not incur.
The vehicles—a Chevrolet pickup and a trailer—were registered in Veracruz, a state where Carranza has no connection. The fraudulent transactions date back to 2021, leaving him with five years of charges for vehicles he never owned. His investigation found that a fraudster used an outdated voter ID card, which he believed he had lost, along with a forged residency document claiming he lived in Playa Vicente, Veracruz, a location with no ties to him.
When authorities provided a copy of the ID used in the fraud, Carranza was stunned to see his personal information; but not his photograph. “They sent me a copy of the voter ID where all my data appears, but in that photo, I don’t recognize myself,” he stated in an interview. The document also included a government-issued certificate from Veracruz’s former secretary of government, falsely confirming his residency in the state.
Fraudulent loans and years of debt
Carranza first suspected fraud when his credit report showed debts linked to the two vehicles, neither of which he had ever seen. After filing a complaint with the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office, he contacted Veracruz’s Secretaría de Finanzas y Planeación (Sefiplan) to clarify the records. His inquiry revealed that the fraudster had used his old voter ID, one he thought was lost, to secure financing for the vehicles. The transactions began in 2021, leaving him with years of unpaid debts and potential legal consequences. “Someone took my old voter ID, the one I thought I’d lost, and since 2021, they’ve been taking out loans in my name,” he explained.
The fraud extended beyond the vehicles. Carranza also faces unjustified utility charges in Acapulco, where he owns a vacant apartment. Despite not using the property for years, he received water bills far exceeding those of neighbors who actually live there. “I pay more for water in a place I don’t use than people who actually live in their apartments,” he said.
Unjust utility charges and solar panel dispute
He also disputes a 20,000-peso debt from the Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), claiming the state utility owes him money after he installed solar panels on one of his properties. The CFE has failed to conduct meter readings, leaving him stuck with charges for electricity he never consumed. “They want me to pay for something I don’t owe. They haven’t even taken a reading, so what’s the point of installing solar panels if the CFE doesn’t respect what we generate?” he said.
Carranza’s frustration stems from the broader issue: identity fraud that leaves victims with financial and legal burdens. While he has filed complaints, resolving the matter requires traveling to Veracruz, a process that adds to the cost and delays. The comedian, who has faced theft and other setbacks, now worries that the vehicles registered in his name could be tied to criminal activity, further complicating his situation.
The case reveals weaknesses in Mexico’s identity verification system, where outdated documents can still be exploited. Carranza’s experience, from the forged voter ID to the falsified residency certificate, shows that even basic fraud protections may not be enough to stop determined criminals. Authorities confirmed that the Chevrolet pickup and trailer were registered under his name using the forged residency document, but no records showed proof of purchase or financing agreements in his actual credit history.
