Attempted fraud against Sergio Lapegüe using his daughter's identity: "We were worried"

Sergio Lapegüe (61) recounted the attempted digital scam he suffered after being contacted via WhatsApp message by someone impersonating his daughter, Micaela.

According to the journalist and host of La mañana de Lape (América TV), he received a message from an unknown number using his daughter Mica Lapegüe's profile photo — who is currently in her eighth month of pregnancy.

"Hi, Dad. My phone broke and I'll be using this number for a while," was the message he received.

"I was actually about to go see her, because it was her partner's birthday... And her actual photo appeared, the photo I have of her on my phone. Someone took the photo... What do I do? My first reaction was panic. I told my wife 'someone stole Mica's phone.' And then I blocked the number right away, because otherwise they'd take money from me...," Lapegüe recounted on his show, describing the moment of anguish he experienced alongside his partner, Silvia "Bochi" Todaro.

"My wife called my son-in-law. And my son-in-law didn't answer. That's when we really started to worry. On top of everything, she's pregnant...," he admitted.

Lapegüe was eventually able to contact his daughter, who reassured him and confirmed she was fine.

"My wife, sharp as ever, recorded the situation and posted it on Instagram, where she has many followers. So a lot of people started writing to the guy, a scoundrel. After a while he changed the photo and removed my daughter's picture. But what would have happened if I had answered? You have to be very alert, because this can happen to anyone. You can't let your guard down," the journalist and host warned.

"You have to talk about these things because it can happen to anyone, no one is exempt. You have to stay alert, anything can happen," Lapegüe reiterated.

Bochi, the journalist and host's partner, who exposed the entire situation on her social media and expressed her outrage, reflected on the matter and warned her followers: "It's important that we all stay alert. Criminals take advantage of the trust and affection we have for our loved ones."