Cancun Real Estate Agency Accused of Massive Fraud
A real estate agency in Cancun, Global Martínez, is accused of fraud. Dozens of people claim they were scammed into buying land that was already sold to multiple families. Victims are demanding a refund and have filed complaints with authorities. The company has not issued a statement yet.
In a dramatic turn of events that has shaken the real estate market in Cancun, around 30 individuals took to the streets in protest on Chichén Itzá Avenue, accusing local real estate agency Global Martínez of orchestrating an elaborate fraud. The agency, led by owner Armando Martínez and his son Marvin, is at the center of a scandal that reportedly affects more than 850 families who say they were swindled out of millions of pesos in a multi-family land sale scam.
The lots in question, located near the luxury Moon Palace hotel along the federal highway, were allegedly sold to multiple buyers, leaving hundreds of families without the land they thought they had legally purchased. Yadhira Martínez, one of the protestors and a victim of the alleged fraud, gave a passionate account of the ordeal, calling the situation "the most unfair thing" she has ever experienced in her 40 years of living in Cancun.
A Double-Dealing Scheme Exposed
The scandal erupted when buyers, who had painstakingly saved to purchase these lots, discovered that the land had serious legal complications, including overlapping ownership claims. Many were shocked to find out that their newly purchased land had been sold to several different families, all of whom had believed they were the rightful owners.
Speaking out during the protest, Yadhira voiced the frustrations shared by the growing group of victims. "Here is the man who robbed us," she declared, referring to Global Martínez's owner, Armando Martínez. "He, along with his son Marvin, defrauded us, stole from us, deceived us because we came with good will to buy our land with so much sacrifice."
The protesters claim that they paid between 500,000 and 800,000 pesos for the properties, only to later discover that they had been deceived. The land in Ciudad Varuna, which was marketed as prime real estate, has since been mired in legal controversy. Yadhira and others allege that the company's representatives never informed them of any issues, forcing them to scramble to find out the truth from other sources.
"They didn’t even have the decency to say the land had problems," said another protester. "We had to find out from other people, and now we’re left fighting to get our money back."
A Grim Outlook for Families Involved
Despite demands for refunds, affected buyers have faced a series of frustrating delays. Yadhira explained that when the families approached Global Martínez to reclaim their money, they were told to wait for a resolution, only to be handed checks that later bounced.
“And they still talk to us and tell us, ‘You’re going to have to wait, and we’ll change the check when we inform you,’” she said, her voice thick with anger. "This is the most unfair thing we’ve ever experienced."
The sense of betrayal runs deep among the victims, many of whom are long-time residents of Cancun. The sentiment was summed up by one protester, who said: "We’ve worked hard all our lives to secure a better future, and now we are fighting for something that should never have been taken from us."
The real estate company has reportedly gone silent since the complaints surfaced, with calls from buyers going unanswered. The company’s lack of communication has prompted many to take legal action, filing complaints with the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE). Several buyers are now pleading with local authorities to intervene, fearing that Armando and Marvin Martínez may flee before justice is served.
"The investigation file has already been made. We’ve spoken to the governor and the mayor," Yadhira explained. "We ask the prosecutor to speed up this matter, because they’re going to escape."
The victims have turned to Quintana Roo’s Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, urging her to intervene and protect the rights of the defrauded families. Despite the massive scale of the scandal, the authorities have so far struggled to bring about a swift resolution. Victims worry that without immediate intervention, they may never recover their hard-earned money.
Yadhira, along with dozens of others, has been demonstrating outside Global Martínez's offices since Tuesday evening. Initially hoping for an amicable resolution, their patience wore thin as the company continued to dodge questions and refused to issue a formal statement. In desperation, the group escalated their protest by blocking a road in superblock 61 near the water sump, halting traffic for nearly two hours on Wednesday morning.
The protesters insist that they will not give up until they receive their money back. "That they return our money is the only thing we ask," Yadhira stated, speaking on behalf of all the affected families.
Real Estate Fraud Scandals on the Rise in Cancun
The Cancun area has seen a surge in real estate fraud in recent years, as the booming tourism industry and growing demand for land have attracted unscrupulous developers looking to make a quick profit. The alleged fraud by Global Martínez is just the latest in a series of property scams that have left buyers financially devastated and distrustful of the real estate sector.
For those affected by this latest scandal, the fallout has been particularly harsh. Many families had poured their life savings into purchasing the land, hoping to build homes or secure a better financial future for their children. Now, they find themselves embroiled in a legal nightmare, with little recourse other than to hope that authorities will take action before it’s too late.
As the protestors continue their battle, the future remains uncertain for the hundreds of families who are still waiting for answers. So far, Global Martínez has remained silent on the issue, further fueling suspicions that the company is attempting to avoid accountability.
Meanwhile, victims like Yadhira have vowed to keep up the pressure on local authorities. “We’re not going to stop until we get justice,” she said. “They can’t just take everything we’ve worked for.”
Whether the authorities will act swiftly enough to prevent the owners of Global Martínez from evading responsibility is now the burning question on everyone’s mind. For the families caught in the middle of this scandal, time is running out, and so is their patience.
The Cancun real estate world has never seen anything like it, and many are left wondering how such a massive fraud could have gone unchecked for so long.
