Eddy County Sheriff warns of telephone warrant scam
The Eddy County Sheriff’s Office will never call to request Eddy County residents pay warrants or fees via phone or prepaid cards.
That’s the message the Sheriff’s Office is sharing in hopes of educating potential scam victims this holiday season.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that it does not collect monies or fees for any law enforcement purposes ever.
That should be a red flag for anyone one receiving a call claiming to be from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, said Deputy Chief Matthew Hutchinson
“Any company requesting you send prepaid card numbers is almost always a fraudulent company,” a news release from the Sheriff’s Department read. “This is not a legitimate way of conducting business and should be questioned immediately.”
The Sheriff’s Department has already received reports that the scam was attempted in Eddy County, Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson, in a news release, said suspicious calls should be reported to the Sheriff’s Office. He said it is helpful to note the name of the person calling and the phone number from which the scam was attempted.
He added that residents should never share their personal or bank information with unknown callers.
The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office said telephone scams are more prevalent during the holidays, and often scammer target the most vulnerable in society, including the elderly.
“Scams may come through phone calls from real people, robocalls, or text messages,” the Attorney General’s website warned. “The callers often make false promises, such as opportunities to buy products, invest your money or receive free product trials.
“They may also offer you money through free grants and lotteries. Some scammers may call with threats of jail or lawsuits if you don’t pay them.”
Visit https://www.nmag.gov/protect-yourself/scams-and-fraud/ for a list of reported scams and frauds or to report a suspected scam.
Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@currentargus.com. Find her on Twitter at @JussGREAT.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Eddy County Sheriff warns of telephone warrant scam
