Amid a surge in online identity theft, the Honduran media outlet La Prensa has alerted the public about a counterfeit article that promotes the platform “Tierra Invest.” Falsely linked to this reputable source, the article alleges that many Hondurans are making money through investments in this platform. Nevertheless, it is a scam aimed at extracting users’ personal information.
Online identity theft for deceptive activities
The article, which has gained considerable attention on social media platforms, includes altered material pretending to be an authentic piece from La Prensa. The headline reads “Thousands of Hondurans are now making money by investing in Tierra Invest” and features a supposed statement from President Xiomara Castro, who is claimed to have endorsed the platform as a move towards a more sustainable future. Nonetheless, there is no verification for this assertion, and the media outlet’s officials have refuted any link to the article.
The deceptive site, crafted to imitate La Prensa’s web address, operates under a counterfeit URL (hnfinan.com) rather than the legitimate domain laprensa.hn. A WHOIS search has verified that this domain was registered in April 2025, significantly later than the original website, which dates back to 2000. This visual imitation, along with links to forms asking for personal and financial details, exposes its intention: information theft.
Alteration of multimedia content and fabrication of testimonials
The deception extends beyond a written piece and involves a doctored video that depicts President Xiomara Castro promoting the introduction of “Tierra Invest,” associating the initiative with renewable energy. The video, however, exhibits clear discrepancies, such as a lack of synchronization between the speaker’s mouth movements and the sound. Hable Como Habla (HCH) conducted an analysis that verified the video had been altered and is not a part of any genuine transmission.
In the deceptive message, there are fake endorsements from so-called users who assert having gained significant earnings. This is a frequent method in these kinds of scams, aimed at establishing trust with targets and prompting them to disclose their personal information.
Alert regarding the rise of online scams
The phenomenon of digital impersonation for fraudulent purposes is not new in Honduras. Similar cases have been documented on several occasions, with the names of public figures and the aesthetics of well-known media outlets being used to deceive users. The alert about the “Tierra Invest” page adds to a series of frauds documented by EL HERALDO Verifica since early 2025.
Businessman Fredy Nasser, whose image was used in this fraudulent campaign, also spoke out publicly in January 2025, denying any connection with the platform and warning about the deceptive practices associated with it.
Suggestions to prevent becoming a target of online scams
The incident involving La Prensa’s impersonation underscores an increasing issue of online scams in Honduras, impacting both people and organizations. Individuals must stay vigilant to the misleading methods used by these scam sites, which exploit media outlets and public figures to seem trustworthy. Considering these dangers, it is crucial to confirm the authenticity of information, refrain from posting confidential data on unverified websites, and exercise high caution while navigating the web.