September Scams And Frauds Reported to New Mexico AG's Office

October 01, 2007 -- The following is an overview of what has been reported to the Attorney General’s Office since the beginning of the month.

“Internal Revenue Service” Scam:

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Last month, the IRS issued its own consumer alert regarding a new, two-step e-mail scam that falsely promises recipients they will receive $80.00 for participating in an on-line customer satisfaction survey. In the scam, unsuspecting tax payers receive an unsolicited email that appears to come from the IRS. A URL link to an online “Member Satisfaction Survey” is contained in the email. The IRS says it never sends unsolicited emails nor does it ask taxpayers for PIN numbers, passwords or secret access information for credit card, bank or financial accounts. This month, the scam continues with recipients falsely promised amounts ranging from $80.00 to $116.40.

If you receive such emails, the New Mexico Attorney General Office encourages you NOT to respond.

Land Sale Scam:

As mentioned in the July and September Consumer Advisory reports, land scams are continuing to be reported to the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. As a reminder, if you receive a phone call or letter from a company either offering to purchase your land or to advertise your land to potential buyers, be alert. Often times, a scammer will ask you to pay upfront for service you may never receive.

Property owners are encouraged NOT to give out any personal information, including credit card numbers or bank account information to anyone you do not know.

Impersonating AGO Staff Member Scam:

A New Mexico resident reports receiving a call from an individual claiming to be an employee of the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. The person was told he had won the lottery and was then asked to send $750.00 to an address in Jamaica.

If you receive a phone call like this, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office encourages you NOT to respond.

Financial Institution Scams:

Del Norte Credit Union and some of its members continue to be the targets of a “phishing scam”. More Northern New Mexico residents have reported receiving phone calls or e-mails asking them to respond to a toll free number and provide personal account information, including debit and credit card numbers.

If DNCU members receive a phone call or e-mail like this, do not give out any personal information. If you have responded to such a request, contact Del Norte Credit Union immediately to freeze your account.

Several Bank of America customers have received email notifications that their accounts have temporarily been suspended. The customer is told in the email to click on a link that is provided and fill out a secure online form.

If Bank of America customers receive an email like this, do not give out any personal information. The Bank of America’s website ask customers to report a suspicious email that uses Bank of America's name, you can forward it to abuse@bankofamerica.com.

Counterfeit Check Scams:

New Mexico banks were alerted to several different counterfeit checks schemes that were reported to the office by consumers. The checks had the names of real businesses on them, though the checks did not originate from those businesses. Most checks were accompanied by letters stating the recipient had won a lottery or drawing and the check was included to cover fees needed to claim the winnings. The letter urged that the check be deposited and a large portion of the check wired back to cover costs. This is a scam. Legitimate lotteries do not require a winner to pay to receive winnings.

Nigerian and Lottery Scams:

New Mexico residents continue to report scams involving banks and individuals that are out of the country. The scammer is asking for financial assistance for a family member who has died. The scam offers to send large sums of money to the recipient in exchange for their help.

This is a typical scam received via email. If you receive a plea for assistance involving financial transactions of any kind, please do not respond.

Consumers are also receiving “official notifications” of lottery winnings accompanied by a check. Recipients are asked to “kindly” deposit the check, allowing 24 to 48 hours for the check to clear, following with a phone number to contact “your claims broker.” These checks are fraudulent; if you deposit the check it will bounce; if you wire any money overnight, you will lose the money. If you receive a notification like this, please disregard and do not respond.

Consumers may report scams and frauds they experience by forwarding suspicious emails to publicinformationoff@ago.state.nm.us.

Source: New Mexico Attorney General