The National Chamber of Small Business, Services, and Tourism of Mérida (Canacope Servytur) warned about the growing problem of counterfeit bills circulating in the state.
$500 bills are the most common, followed by $200 and $100 bills, said Enrique Contreras Ramírez, its president.
“Small businesses are especially vulnerable to this fraud, as a single transaction can represent a significant loss in their working capital,” he said.
Faced with this problem, some businesses have opted to stop accepting $500 bills to reduce the risk. “Large chains have implemented this measure, and we recommend it to our members, as it is an effective way to avoid falling prey to this type of fraud,” the leader noted.
Another problem merchants face is the inability to recover their money once they receive a counterfeit bill.
“If you take a counterfeit bill to the bank, not only will they retain it, but it could lead to an investigation,” he explained. “This situation leaves small businesses defenseless, and they end up absorbing the economic loss.”
As an alternative, Canacope has identified digital payments as a possible solution. However, many small merchants still face difficulties in adopting electronic payment technologies.
TYT Newsroom
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