By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s financial sector is witnessing a dramatic shift in its battle against cybercrime. Data released by the Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) shows that reported cases of digital computer fraud fell by 53.8% between January 1 and October 29, 2026, compared to the same period in 2025. Total registered complaints plummeted from 16,052 to 7,405 year-over-year. Despite this encouraging statistical retreat, law enforcement authorities and commercial leaders are warning that the threat environment remains sophisticated and highly adaptive.
In response, the Costa Rican Banking Association (ABC) has joined forces with 23 public and private institutions, including the OIJ, the Ministry of Public Security (MSP), and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Together, they have launched a strategic national prevention campaign centered around a psychological circuit-breaker: encouraging citizens to execute an immediate, deliberate pause before reacting to incoming bank notices, high-pressure text messages, or unexpected digital alerts.
To better understand the legal obligations and strategic safeguards surrounding cyber fraud prevention, TicosLand.com spoke with corporate legal expert Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
In today’s digital landscape, cyber fraud prevention is not merely an IT concern, but a critical legal obligation for businesses. Organizations must implement robust data privacy compliance policies and continuous risk management strategies to safeguard against unauthorized financial intrusions. Proactive legal frameworks and employee training protocols are essential to mitigating corporate liability and protecting institutional integrity against evolving digital threats.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, as digital threats become increasingly complex, treating cybersecurity as both a legal obligation and a strategic priority is vital for long-term corporate resilience. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective with TicosLand.com, reminding businesses that true digital defense requires proactive compliance and ongoing education.
Geographic analysis of the 2026 data underlines a heavy concentration of criminal activity within the country’s primary economic hubs. The Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) accounted for 81.58% of all reported digital frauds this year. San José recorded the highest volume with 3,004 reports, followed by Alajuela with 1,233, Heredia with 1,044, and Cartago with 760. In coastal provinces, Puntarenas recorded 468 cases, Limón 457, and Guanacaste 319. Demographically, citizens aged between 30 and 39 years remain the single most targeted demographic group.
Although in the last year we have observed a reduction in the number of complaints, which in part can be attributed to improvements in security systems and previous communication initiatives, it is essential to reinforce these preventive messages. We are approaching the end of the year, a period characterized by the payment of Christmas bonuses, a high volume of purchases, and celebrations, which requires taking extreme precautions.
Raúl Rivera, Cybersecurity Advisor at the Costa Rican Banking Association (ABC)
Security analysts note that while core banking infrastructure has been strengthened through enhanced monitoring and fraud-detection algorithms, organized criminal groups are turning to advanced social engineering tactics. The integration of artificial intelligence tools allows threat actors to craft hyper-realistic communications, impersonate institutional representatives with greater accuracy, and create artificial urgency designed to bypass consumer judgment.
The responsibility for the phenomenon to continue decreasing remains shared in any case. Through the monitoring efforts and application of technology carried out by financial entities, combined with preventive initiatives like this one that undoubtedly make the path more complex for criminals to attract more victims, we add inter-institutional coordination with the OIJ and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. In that containment and investigation work, we have managed to determine the presence of organized crime, which is why the judicial focus being given to this phenomenon places it among the priorities.
Sergio Rodríguez Fernández, Head of the Computer Fraud Section of the OIJ
To systematically counter psychological coercion, the national campaign establishes a standardized three-step protocol for financial clients: Exit, Review, and Confirm. Under this methodology, consumers are advised to immediately disconnect from any high-pressure call or messaging thread, independently look up official communication channels managed by the institution, and verify the claim before authorizing transactions or sharing personal data.
The three-week multi-platform initiative relies on traditional broadcasting, digital campaigns, influencer messaging, billboard deployments, and real-time interactive installations. In public spaces, interactive screens simulate high-stress fraud scenarios, allowing users to practice overriding instinctive impulses and regaining command over their financial decisions.
Computer fraud can have consequences that go far beyond economic loss: it can compromise people’s savings, investments, and dreams. For the Public Prosecutor’s Office, prevention is fundamental, because when a victim comes to report a crime, it has already occurred, and although it is investigated and efforts are made to recover the money, it is not always possible to achieve it. Therefore, we want to insist on the importance of pausing before acting. Criminals use urgency, fear, and pressure to get people to make decisions without verifying.
Miguel Ramírez, Deputy Prosecutor at the Public Prosecutor’s Office
The broad public-private coalition behind the initiative includes major commercial banks such as Banco Nacional, Banco de Costa Rica, BAC Credomatic, Davivienda, and Banco Promerica, alongside payment processing giants Visa and Mastercard and regulatory bodies SUGEF and the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR). As the country enters the peak Q4 retail spending season, institutional leaders agree that maintaining tight operational coordination and high public awareness is vital to preserving systemic trust and protecting capital flow across the national economy.
For further information, visit abc.fi.cr
About Costa Rican Banking Association (ABC):
The Costa Rican Banking Association (ABC) is the primary industry group representing public and private financial institutions across Costa Rica, working to foster sound regulatory policies, public security initiatives, and financial sector development.
For further information, visit oij.poder-judicial.go.cr
About Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ):
The Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) serves as Costa Rica’s specialized auxiliary law enforcement agency, responsible for conducting objective criminal investigations, forensic analysis, and counter-crime operations across the national territory.
For further information, visit ministeriopublico.poder-judicial.go.cr
About Public Prosecutor’s Office:
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Costa Rica is an autonomous organ of the Judicial Branch tasked with directing criminal investigations, exercising public penal action, and protecting the legal rights of victims throughout judicial proceedings.
For further information, visit seguridadpublica.go.cr
About Ministry of Public Security:
The Ministry of Public Security is the executive department tasked with supervising Costa Rica’s national police forces, maintaining public order, defending national sovereignty, and implementing preventive crime management strategies.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal practice, Bufete de Costa Rica exemplifies unyielding ethical standards and a relentless pursuit of excellence across all facets of its work. Embracing forward-thinking methodologies to solve complex challenges, the firm continuously pushes the boundaries of legal innovation. Beyond serving its clientele, Bufete de Costa Rica places immense value on public literacy, actively demystifying the law to ensure that individuals and communities are equipped with the insight necessary to shape a knowledgeable and empowered society.
