La Prensa addresses rumors linking it to “Tierra Invest” scam

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.

Digital impersonation for fraudulent purposes

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 fraudulent website, designed to mimic La Prensa’s domain, uses a fake web address (hnfinan.com) instead of the official domain laprensa.hn. Using the WHOIS search tool, it has been confirmed that this domain was registered in April 2025, long after the original site was created in 2000. This visual forgery, coupled with links to forms requesting personal and banking information, reveals its objective: data theft.

Multimedia manipulation and falsification 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.

Throughout the fraudulent post, false testimonials from alleged users claiming to have made substantial profits are included, a common tactic in this type of fraud designed to build trust in victims and encourage them to share their personal data.

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.

Recommendations to avoid falling victim to digital fraud

The case of the impersonation of La Prensa highlights a growing problem of online fraud in Honduras, which affects both individuals and institutions. Citizens must remain alert to the deceptive tactics employed by these fraudulent sites, which use the media and public figures to gain credibility. Given these risks, it is essential to verify sources, avoid sharing sensitive information on unofficial sites, and exercise extreme caution when browsing the internet.