Mexico's National Guard Targets Airport Uber Drivers

Plus, this phone registration scam steals your identity

March 17, 2026

¡Hola amigos! This week, Mexico scores one for potato lovers, Sheinbaum is rolling out a “Plan B” on electoral reform, and Mexico City just set a Guinness World record. Meanwhile, AMLO has resurfaced and is already stirring things up.

Plus, a massive cyberattack exposed millions of taxpayer records and 150GB of government data, how scammers are exploiting Mexico’s new phone registration rule, and why Mexico commemorates March 18 every year.

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❓México Trivia

Which ancient city in Mexico hid a tunnel lined with fool’s gold and pools of liquid mercury?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

📣 México News Roundup

🥔 Canada and Mexico reached a deal to allow Canadian potatoes to be exported to Mexico. 

🚕 Mexico City’s airport is cracking down on Uber again, with National Guard operations targeting drivers despite a federal court order protecting ride-hailing services.

💻 Hackers reportedly used AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to breach Mexican government systems, exposing 150GB of data including taxpayer records, voting information, and government employee credentials.

🗳️ After the House of Representatives rejected her electoral reform proposal last Wednesday, President Sheinbaum unveiled a “Plan B” to cut political privileges and expand public consultation, which she will send back to Congress.

🤝 Economy Minister Ebrard said President Sheinbaum approved the USMCA review plan. Talks with the U.S. this week will focus on supply chains, rules of origin, and reducing reliance on Asia.

🔫 Mexico’s security chief met with the DEA in Washington on Monday to combat drug trafficking and curb the flow of U.S. weapons into Mexico.

🇨🇺 Former President López Obrador is urging Mexicans to donate to Cuba through a civil association, drawing criticism as he backs the island amid its economic crisis and U.S. pressure.

⚽ 9,500 people packed the Zócalo on March 15 as Mexico City set a Guinness World Record for the largest soccer class.

👑 Spain’s King Felipe said the conquest of the Americas involved “much abuse,” but stopped short of an apology sought by Mexico.

🍎 Your Health Pulse

Do You Really Need Health Insurance in Mexico?

Health insurance isn’t mandatory for foreigners living in Mexico, but going without it can get expensive fast. Many private hospitals require deposits of 20,000–30,000 pesos before treatment, and you may need at least 50,000 pesos available to cover medical bills upfront.

Before assuming you can self-insure, it’s worth understanding how healthcare really works here…especially in an emergency.

🧩 Life in México

Scammers Exploit Mexico’s New Phone Registration Rule

A few months ago we informed readers about Mexico’s new requirement to register mobile phone numbers. The rule is now in effect, and scammers are already exploiting it.

Under the regulation, all mobile lines in Mexico must be linked to an official identity such as a CURP, passport, or RFC. The registration process began January 9, 2026, and all users must complete it by June 30, 2026 to keep their lines active. Any number not registered by that date may be suspended or deactivated if not registered.

New phone numbers activated after January 9 must be registered within 30 days.

This requirement applies only to phone numbers issued by Mexican mobile providers. If you are using a foreign cellphone number while visiting or living in Mexico, you do not need to register your number.

The goal is to reduce crimes such as extortion, fraud, and kidnapping by making phone numbers traceable.

But the new system has quickly become a target for phishing schemes.

Some people have reported receiving calls, emails, or text messages claiming to be from their mobile provider or a government authority asking them to “register” their number through a link or by sharing personal information.

These messages are designed to capture identity data or account credentials.

If you receive a message about registering your phone number, do not click the link. Instead, manually go to your provider’s official website or contact them directly to confirm the request. And never share passwords or two-factor authentication codes. No legitimate authority or phone company will ask for those.

At the same time, a black market for pre-registered SIM cards has already appeared online. 

Some sellers on social media are offering chips that are supposedly “already registered,” claiming buyers can skip the registration process entirely. Prices for these SIM cards have reportedly been advertised for as little as 27 pesos.

Authorities warn that these offers may involve stolen identities or fraudulent registrations and could expose users to legal or security risks.

To register your phone line, you must complete the process through your mobile provider.

Depending on how you originally acquired your Mexican cellphone number, it may or may not already be registered in your name.

Providers allow registration online through a dedicated portal on their official website. You will be asked to upload a photo of your government-issued ID – such as a passport if you are not a Mexican national – and take a live selfie so the system can verify your identity. You do not need to present a CURP if you are not resident in Mexico. Lastly, the system may also request the IMEI number of your phone.

Note: Some users have reported technical issues during the online registration process, including errors when uploading identification or completing the identity verification step.

You can also complete the registration in person at a customer service center operated by your mobile provider.

Official websites for Mexico’s major providers:

That Text You Just Got? It Might Be a Scam.

Fake delivery notices, bank alerts, and “wrong number” texts are some of the fastest-growing scams costing people their savings, personal data, and sense of security.

It’s a FREE weekly newsletter covering the scams circulating right now — so you know what to delete, what to verify, and what to never click.

🇲🇽 Viva México

March 18: The Day Mexico Took Back Its Oil

On the evening of March 18, 1938, President Lázaro Cárdenas went on the radio and declared that Mexico was taking its oil back. In that moment, he nationalized 17 foreign oil companies, putting the industry back in Mexican hands.

At the time, foreign companies controlled roughly 95% of Mexico’s oil industry, giving them enormous influence over the country’s most valuable natural resource.

In the late 1800s, President Porfirio Díaz opened Mexico’s oil sector to foreign investment, allowing private companies to control oil found beneath the land.

The Mexican Revolution pushed back against those policies. When the new 1917 Constitution was written, Article 27 declared that Mexico’s subsoil resources – including oil – belonged to the nation.

But the oil companies continued operating largely as before. 

Workers faced poor conditions and labor disputes grew. A federal labor board ruled that companies had the financial ability to improve wages and conditions, but the companies refused to comply.

Then President Lázaro Cárdenas stepped in.

He used his constitutional authority to expropriate their assets and bring the industry under state control. The decree applied not only to the oil itself, but also to the companies’ refineries, pipelines, ships, drilling equipment, and other infrastructure.

The decision led to the creation of Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), the state-owned oil company established on June 7, 1938, less than three months after the expropriation.

Mexico still owed compensation to those foreign-owned companies for the assets it seized. 

What followed was a remarkable outpouring of public support: ordinary people lined up to help pay the oil debt. They brought whatever they could – cash, jewelry, family heirlooms, and even chickens. 

The donations would never cover the debt, but that wasn’t really the point. Expropiación Petrolera became a powerful symbol of national dignity and sovereignty.

The expropriation triggered an international backlash. Foreign oil companies retaliated by organizing an embargo against Mexican petroleum, cutting the country’s oil exports by roughly 50%. Despite the pressure, Mexico kept its oil industry running and much of its oil was sold to Germany.

This is why March 18 is commemorated across the country as El Día de la Expropiación Petrolera, with official ceremonies, school events, and speeches. 

🪷 Viva Wellness

From Sacred Ritual to Cocktail Bar: The Rise of Tejuino

On scorching summer days in western Mexico, locals beat the heat with tejuino. It’s a slightly sweet, a little sour, refreshing fermented drink  with ancient roots in Mexico’s corn-based food traditions and some surprising gut-friendly microbes.

Fermented corn beverages in Mesoamerica go back thousands of years, with some estimates around 6,000–7,000 years. For the Wixárika and other Indigenous groups, corn was sacred, a living gift from the gods, and fermented corn drinks were used for ceremonies and daily nourishment. 

Made from corn dough and piloncillo, tejuino ferments for a few days – a process that gives it its signature sweet-sour tang.

Research on traditional tejuino has found lactic acid bacteria with probiotic potential, along with other native microbes involved in fermentation. In laboratory digestive simulations, these lactic acid bacteria were shown to displace harmful bacteria in parts of the colon, suggesting tejuino may have gut-friendly properties. 

Its corn base provides carbohydrates for energy, while the traditional addition of lime and salt brightens the flavor. Researchers also found that adding lime lowers the pH, which may favor probiotic bacteria.

Despite being fermented, tejuino contains very little alcohol. It’s closer to a lightly fermented refreshment than an alcoholic drink.

Across western Mexico’s “tejuino belt,” Jalisco, Michoacán, Colima, Nayarit, and Sinaloa, every vendor swears their recipe is the best. 

But talk to the maestros tejuineros, and they’ll tell you the real secret is in the details. Recipes are guarded for generations, and some say even a few grains of salt can change the flavor.

Today, tejuino is turning up in new places beyond street stalls. Bartenders are now pairing its tangy depth with tequila, mezcal, and fresh citrus, giving this ancient drink a fresh place in Mexico’s modern cocktail scene.

🎉 ¡Vamos! Events

In Case You Missed It: Here are the 10 best places in Mexico to experience it this year.

ABC Art Baja San José del Cabo – Mar 18–22, Baja California Sur
The opening act of ABC Art Baja kicks off in San José del Cabo with the debut of Plataforma ABC, a hotel art fair transforming rooms at Hotel Drift into exhibition spaces for galleries, designers, and artists. The festival launches its three-week cultural program connecting collectors, creatives, and the public through contemporary art and design. More info here.

ABC Art Baja Todos Santos – Mar 26–29, Baja California Sur
ABC Art Baja continues in Todos Santos with immersive programming featuring ephemeral art, music, and cultural activations at venues including the Néstor Agúndez Cultural Center. The festival brings contemporary installations and performances into the artistic heart of this Pueblo Mágico. More info here.

ABC Art Baja La Paz – Apr 2–5, Baja California Sur
The final act of ABC Art Baja arrives in La Paz with exhibitions, performances, and cultural events including programming at the historic Teatro Juárez. The closing weekend brings together artists, galleries, collectors, and local audiences to celebrate contemporary art across Baja California Sur. More info here.

Festival del Bosque de Chapultepec: Aqüifera – Apr 2–5, Chapultepec Forest, CDMX
Mexico City’s annual environmental and cultural festival returns to Chapultepec Forest with the 2026 theme “El agua que nos habita.” The four-day program features art installations, concerts, workshops, guided tours, and immersive experiences exploring the role of water in the history, biodiversity, and daily life of the Valley of Mexico. Most activities are free and open to the public. More info here.

Semana Internacional de la Moto – Apr 8–11, Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Considered the most important motorcycle event in Mexico and Latin America, this four-day rally brings 25,000+ motorcyclists to Mazatlán for concerts, the massive biker parade, parties, races, and gatherings across the city, with major programming at the Mazatlán International Center. More info here.

💡 Say It in Spanish

Ordeñar vs. Ordenar

One little letter…two totally different vibes.

Say “ordenar” and you’re confidently ordering tacos or a garrafón of water. Say “ordeñar” and... well, you’re milking something. Literally.  

“Ordené un latte” = I ordered a latte.
“Ordeñé una vaca” = I milked a cow.

Big difference, right? 

Not All VPNs Are Built for Privacy. This One Is.

A lot of VPNs promise privacy and then sell your data anyway. Proton VPN is the one that doesn’t. That’s why we use it.

It’s secure, reliable, and doesn’t collect or sell your data – no traffic logs, no IP tracking, no shady stuff behind the scenes.

🎯 Trivia Answer

Teotihuacán.

Every spring equinox, thousands of visitors gather at Teotihuacán, about 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, to celebrate the changing season atop its famous pyramids. But beneath the ancient city lies one of its most mysterious discoveries.

In 2003, heavy rains opened a sinkhole near the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. Archaeologists investigating the area discovered the entrance to a roughly 100-meter-long underground tunnel reaching nearly 17 meters (about 55 feet) below the surface that had been sealed for nearly 1,800 years.

As researchers excavated the passage, they uncovered more than 75,000 objects including jade, serpentine, obsidian, seashells, and pyrite mirrors.

The tunnel walls were decorated with pyrite – known as “fool’s gold” – which would have reflected torchlight like a star-filled sky.

Archaeologists also found pools of liquid mercury – an extremely rare discovery in ancient ruins. The metal was discovered among ritual offerings inside the tunnel, which archaeologists believe represented the underworld in Teotihuacán cosmology. The passage itself was intentionally dug below the natural water table, helping recreate the dark, wet environment associated with that underworld.

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