Crime Uses QR Codes to Steal Data and Recruit Minors in Guanajuato; Children as Young as 12 Are the Most Vulnerable

Authorities warn about a new form of organized crime in Guanajuato: the use of fake QR codes to steal data and force children under 12 to join their ranks.

In Guanajuato, organized crime uses QR codes, social media, and video games to recruit minors, primarily those under 12.

Authorities in Guanajuato have detected that QR codes are a new method used by organized crime to recruit minors and incorporate them into their ranks.

What raises red flags is that the target age group is 12-year-olds.

According to authorities, minors in this age group often go unnoticed, as no one would suspect them of their probable involvement with a criminal group.

The use of QR codes is not the only method; other mechanisms include fraudulent job offers, social media, and online video games.

In an interview with MILENIO, Elia Bárbara Lugo, Undersecretary of Prevention for the Guanajuato Secretariat of Security and Peace, explained that they have detected that cartels hide QR codes in false offers, primarily through social media, to lure them into the network.

By scanning them, they steal the adolescent’s data and then use it to force them to appear alone in a public place, where they abduct them or even threaten to share their photos or videos if they don’t agree to work for them.

“One of the issues we’ve identified is the issue of QR codes, not only for these types of situations, but also for electronic fraud and extortion. It’s important for people to be aware of this and for our youth to understand that even a QR code can contain false information that will lead you to one case after another, and before you know it, you’re already involved in forced recruitment,” he explained.

Preventive Measures

In light of the growing nationwide phenomenon of underage recruitment into the ranks of organized crime groups, Guanajuato has become a pioneer, along with Jalisco, in developing preventive programs and campaigns to warn them about the mechanisms used.

The campaign, titled “Prevention Against Forced Recruitment. In a few words, say: I don’t authorize crime,” seeks to alert minors and young people to avoid falling into the clutches of crime.

It warns them that they will be lured by deception on social media and video games; false promises of money and power; and peer pressure from friends or even family members.

Although there are no formal complaints to date that suggest active recruitment of minors is taking place in Guanajuato, official figures obtained by MILENIO through a request for access to information addressed to the State Attorney General’s Office reveal that from 2020 to the first half of 2025, 4,454 minors were arrested in Guanajuato’s industrial corridor alone for crimes, the most common being robbery, extortion, and drug dealing.

In Guanajuato, organized crime uses QR codes, social media, and video games to recruit minors, primarily those under 12 years of age.

The grim figure of this criminal phenomenon is attributed to legal loopholes in the Penal Code, which does not contemplate a concept such as “Recruitment of Minors.” Therefore, many of these cases, when detected, are classified as “Human Trafficking” or “Corruption of Minors.”

Parents are advised to call 089 when they detect atypical behavior in their children, such as staying out late at night, being absent for days at a time, or carrying large amounts of money.

Guanajuato Survivor Recruitment in Jalisco: His Experience Served in Designing a Program

The testimony of a young man from Guanajuato who is now protected, but who once survived forced recruitment by a criminal group in Jalisco, served as input for the development of this prevention campaign.

The victim recounted his entire experience with the goal of preventing others from going through the same thing.

Elia Bárbara Lugo, Undersecretary of Prevention for the Guanajuato Secretariat of Security and Peace, explained that interviews with the young man allowed local authorities to understand and obtain information on how the cartels operate.

—Are minors being recruited from Jalisco?—

“We could say from different states; I couldn’t say for sure because I don’t have the figures. I can speak about the state of Jalisco, because there was a testimony we received from which we obtained a wealth of information, and we believe it’s very valuable that if that person, thank God, is safe today, can share this story and all the aspects we are seeing to validate and publicize how they operate and ensure more people don’t fall prey to these types of abuses, illegal operations, and practices,” she explained.

In Guanajuato, organized crime uses QR codes, social media, and video games to recruit minors, mainly those under 

12 year olds, the preferred recruiting targets

According to research and analysis of information conducted by the Guanajuato Secretariat of Security and Peace, children under 12 years of age are the most likely to be targeted by cartels for recruitment given their vulnerability as they are pre-pubescent.

Furthermore, the penalties—if arrested—are much less severe than those for adults, as the National Law of the Comprehensive Criminal Justice System for Adolescents, in its Article 164, in relation to Section III, Section IX, X, and XI, states that confinement will only be used as an extreme measure and for the most severe period of time for adolescents who, at the time of proven commission of crimes, are between 14 and under 18 years of age.

“It is known that the majority or the most vulnerable population are 12-year-olds, because they represent physical strength, a vulnerability that makes them easily deceived and easily threatened, and, above all, because the law, unlike that of adults, imposes completely different penalties, and that is what motivates criminals to take action against these youth,” the state official explained.

This coincides with official figures from the Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office, which detail that from 2020 to the first half of 2025, 339 children between the ages of 12 and 14 were arrested for committing crimes against public health, theft, and even participating in extortion activities.

In the coming weeks, the Undersecretary of Prevention of the Ministry of Security and Peace will conclude the state program for the social prevention of violence and crime called the Phoenix Program. This program will determine specific actions in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and other agencies to prevent the recruitment of children and adolescents by cartels.

Minor subdued by members of the CJNG

On August 27, a video circulating on social media showed a 17-year-old minor from Guanajuato being subdued by an alleged group of armed civilians belonging to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The video shows at least 11 individuals wearing tactical uniforms, carrying long weapons, and bulletproof vests with the criminal group’s acronyms. The men question the minor and accuse him of belonging to a rival group.

That same morning, authorities reported an operation in the municipality of Pénjamo, where they seized a property used as an operational base by the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel.

Weapons, ammunition, tactical equipment, and a vehicle were seized at the scene. Additionally, the Guanajuato Secretariat of Security and Peace reported that two minors with Amber Alert status were located there. They were in very poor health and were taken to a hospital for medical attention.

The minors were 14 and 17 years old, and it is the latter, according to sources consulted by MILENIO, who appeared subdued in the video; the other teenager died.

At least 11 individuals can be seen in the recording wearing tactical uniforms, long weapons, and bulletproof vests.

One day after this incident, two young members of apostolic groups from the San Felipe Apóstol parish in the municipality of San Felipe were abducted. 

The victims were identified as Ulises Arturo Martínez, 19, and Edgar Noé Rodríguez Cervantes, 21. Their bodies were found abandoned on a dirt road.

Both young men were active members of the Catholic community; this year they had even participated in the Holy Week Stations of the Cross, one as a Roman soldier and the other as an apostle.

Priest Gustavo Barrios, who celebrated Mass at the San Felipe Apóstol parish, called for peace.

The events occurred on Tuesday, August 26, around 8:30 p.m., when the three friends were intercepted by an armed group while talking.

Ulises Arturo and Edgar Noé were abducted; a third friend escaped and reported what had happened.

No arrests have been made so far, nor has the State Attorney General’s Office announced any lines of investigation into this case.

Sources: Milenio, Cartel Insider