Sheriff warns residents about aggressive phone scam

Socorro County Sheriff Lee Armijo is warning residents about a phone scam that has resurfaced in the area, targeting vulnerable populations with threats of arrest and demands for payment.

According to Armijo, callers claim the victim has outstanding warrants or unpaid fines and must pay immediately to avoid being taken into custody.

“They’ve been doing this for years,” Armijo said. “They’ll say your social security number is suspended or that you missed jury duty. It’s all designed to scare people into paying.”

The scammers often spoof legitimate phone numbers, sometimes even the sheriff’s office, and instruct victims to purchase prepaid cards from retailers like Walmart and provide the card numbers over the phone

“Never, ever make any kind of payment over the phone,” Armijo said. “Law enforcement will never call you and demand money.”

Armijo noted the scammers frequently become aggressive if victims hesitate, threatening immediate arrest.

The scam disproportionately targets senior citizens and immigrants, who may be unfamiliar with local legal procedures.

“They love the elderly and people from other countries,” Armijo said. “Those are their biggest targets.”

The Las Cruces Police Department also put out a warning about this same scam taking place in their area.

Residents are also reminded that legitimate agencies like the IRS rarely communicate by phone and never demand payment through gift cards or wire transfers.

This is just one of many scams going around New Mexico that pretend to be real authorities to receive phone payments. Several state and local agencies have issued alerts about similar schemes.

The New Mexico Courts warn of fake jury duty notices and calls demanding payment to avoid arrest. Courts never request money over the phone and advise residents to contact their local courthouse directly.

The New Mexico Medical Board reports scammers posing as board officials, threatening license suspension unless immediate payment is made. The board stresses it never solicits payments by phone.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (DOT) has flagged fraudulent calls claiming unpaid tolls or fees. DOT advises ignoring such calls and reporting them.

The New Mexico State Bar has seen scams targeting attorneys and the public, including threats related to missed jury duty or disciplinary actions.

Armijo said the sheriff’s office sees an uptick in scam activity during the holiday season.

“People get desperate for money,” he said. “We often see an influx during the holidays.”

The sheriff’s office urges anyone receiving such calls to hang up and contact them directly at 575-835-0941 or verify any claims with the Magistrate Court.