“Emergency Scam”; Fitch Maintains ‘BB+’ Rating; Government Details Use of $29 Million from Copper; Eight Arrested for Cyber Fraud.

Friday, December 12, 2025. Preventing the “Emergency Scam” Targeting Staff Across Panama, and increasingly throughout Latin America, a highly effective fraud scheme continues to exploit the trust and fear of household employees. The pattern is predictable, yet devastatingly successful: a caller urgently informs a nanny or maid that their employer has been arrested, injured, or is in severe legal trouble and needs an immediate cash payment to secure release. The caller demands jewelry, cash, or other valuables and instructs the employee to hand them over to a “lawyer” waiting outside the home. By the time the truth comes to light, the valuables are gone, the criminals have vanished, and both the family and the employee are left shaken. These criminals rely on speed, fear, and confusion. Their goal is to make the employee act before they think, using a believable script and pressure tactics that make the situation feel real. To protect your household, it’s critical to educate and prepare your staff. A well-briefed employee is the single most effective barrier against this type of fraud. How to Prevent This Scam 1. Establish a Household Security Protocol Make sure every employee knows the golden rule:No one acts on an emergency call without first confirming directly with the employer or the employer’s spouse.No exceptions. 2. Create a “Verification Call List” Provide your staff with: 3. Train Staff to Recognize Red Flags Criminals typically: Your staff must understand that pressure equals fraud. 4. Prohibit Any Transfer of Valuables Make it clear—verbally and in writing—that:No employee is ever authorized to hand over cash, jewelry, or documents to anyone without your explicit confirmation. 5. Encourage Calm and Critical Thinking Let them know: 6. Install Security Measures Instructions to Give Your Maid or Nanny You can include these as a printed list in your home: Final Note These scams succeed not because staff are careless, but because criminals are highly trained in psychological manipulation. A prepared household is a protected household. Clear communication, simple rules, and regular reminders will reduce your risk significantly. Brett Mikkelson Director, B.M. Investigations, Inc. – Private Investigations in Panama TOP NEWS and TIDBITS: Assembly Promotes Forum to Improve Panama’s Investment Grade and Attract More Investment The National Assembly’s Economic Committee launched on Thursday a forum-workshop aimed at evaluating the country’s economic situation and mapping out a roadmap to recover and strengthen Panama’s investment grade, a key indicator for attracting foreign investment and reducing unemployment. Deputy Eduardo Gaitán, a member of the committee and promoter of the event, explained that the investment grade “is not an isolated macroeconomic concept,” but a factor that directly impacts Panamanians’ finances. He compared it to the credit rating banks assess when a person applies for a loan. “The better the country’s financial profile, the better interest rates we will all receive—whether for mortgages, car loans, or personal credit,” Gaitán said. He added that the investment level is closely linked to unemployment: “The higher the investment, the lower the unemployment. That is why this issue is so relevant.” A space with more than 100 economic stakeholdersThe forum will include participation from representatives of the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), AMCHAM, independent economists, and various multilateral sectors. Key topics to be discussed include:• The current status of Panama’s economy.• Measures to improve the country’s image with credit rating agencies. The objective is for legislative proposals and public policy recommendations to emerge from this forum to strengthen fiscal stability and transparency. Corruption and lack of transparency continue to affect the countryThe deputy acknowledged that governance and transparency remain the main challenges cited by international rating agencies. He noted that practices such as nepotism, conflicts of interest, and public officials engaging in contracts with the State continue to damage the country’s credibility. “These are practices people have come to see as normal, but they are not. And they directly affect the international perception we aim to improve,” he stated. As an example, he mentioned the recent case of a former deputy and former director of Pandeportes who is facing legal proceedings for contracts with the State without proper authorization. Forum expectationsGaitán emphasized that this is the first time the Economic Committee organizes a forum of this scale with all key national and international economic actors. The goal, he said, is for joint efforts to produce clear policies and concrete measures to strengthen Panama’s economy. “The investment grade affects credit, unemployment, and the daily life of every Panamanian. We cannot treat it as an isolated issue,” he stressed. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE Small Aircraft that Crashed on the Amador Causeway Was Heading to the Calzada Larga Airfield The Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) reported that the authorized investigative team is already conducting inquiries to determine the causes of the small aircraft crash that occurred Thursday morning on the Amador Causeway. According to AAC Deputy Director Abdel Martínez, the flight plan initially listed four passengers; however, at the time of takeoff only two crew members were on board. They were treated by emergency medical personnel following the incident. The institution indicated that the aircraft’s destination was the Calzada Larga airfield. In the area, units from the Fire Department are carrying out cleanup work and fuel removal, while traffic flow is being regulated to avoid congestion. Authorities are advising drivers to avoid traveling through the area. A small aircraft crashed Thursday morning on the Amador Causeway, resulting in two people sustaining minor injuries. READ ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE Fitch Maintains Panama’s Rating at ‘BB+’, Below Investment Grade Fitch Ratings confirmed on Wednesday Panama’s sovereign risk rating at ‘BB+’ with a stable outlook, highlighting a combination of macroeconomic strengths and persistent pressures on public finances. Panama remains below investment grade for Fitch, which removed it in March 2024. However, the country still retains that status with the other two major agencies, meaning that it is still generally considered an investment-grade economy. In its report, Fitch noted that the country’s profile continues to be supported by a high GDP per capita, low inflation, and macro-financial stability derived from