**Woman Accused of Defrauding Over 30 People in Tijuana**
A group of women recently approached the State Attorney General’s Office to file a complaint against Andrea Ruiz and her family, alleging that they were defrauded over 100,000 pesos in exchange for plastic surgeries that were never performed.
Vanessa González, one of the victims, revealed that she paid 180,000 pesos under a contract for a plastic surgery. However, when she inquired about the date of the procedure, Andrea Ruiz canceled the contract.
“All these women contacted me after I went public about this issue. She canceled my contract merely because I asked why my surgery wasn’t financed, even though she claimed to be a financial facilitator,” Vanessa commented.
Following the cancellation, Andrea blocked Vanessa from all social media platforms, prompting her to start the complaint process online. When the news spread, around 30 other women revealed that they had also been defrauded by the same woman, some as far back as 2016.
“There are individuals who have been dealing with this for eight years. Andrea Araujo Ortiz fails to fulfill her contracts. The only time she attempted to follow through was in 2016 at the Santa Catalina clinic in Tecate, but the patient died,” Vanessa added.
Other victims disclosed that Andrea had worked at the Jerusalem clinic, alongside doctors Juan Betancourt and Henry Vela. The situation worsened after the death of María José Chacón Herrera, the wife of the Guatemalan consul in Denver, in July 2022.
Andrea Ruiz reportedly apologized to her clients and requested time to return their money, claiming that she was also a victim. This excuse allowed her to delay payments for several years.
Vanessa added that her complaint includes Andrea, her partner César, her cousin Alejandra, and her mother María, as the money from the contracts was being deposited into their bank accounts.
Additionally, seven other victims have filed fraud complaints, and more are expected to come forward. Collectively, the accused parties are believed to have defrauded approximately 2.4 million pesos.
**Secondary Article: Rising Cases of Medical Fraud in Mexico**
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in reports of medical fraud across Mexico. Many victims have fallen prey to schemes promising affordable procedures that never materialize. Authorities warn citizens to thoroughly investigate and verify the credentials of medical practitioners and financial facilitators.
One such notable incident occurred in July 2022 when María José Chacón Herrera, the wife of the Guatemalan consul in Denver, tragically died following a procedure at the Jerusalem clinic in Tijuana. This incident has drawn attention to the need for better regulation and oversight in the medical field to prevent further tragedies and to protect patients from fraudulent activities.
As medical tourism continues to grow in Mexico, authorities emphasize the importance of due diligence and legal precautions to ensure safety and prevent exploitation.