A tip was called in to the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office Friday from a woman who reported that she was the target of a scam that used the sheriff’s office by name.
According to the victim, a man claiming to be a Doña Ana County Sheriff’s deputy called the woman to inform her she had warrants for her arrest. In order to clear the warrants, the victim was reportedly told she had to call a phone number with a 904 area code to pay the so-called fines with either a credit or debit card.
The victim further stated that her caller ID listed the man’s phone number as (575) 525-1911, the same number as the sheriff’s office main headquarters in Las Cruces.
The Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office does not notify anyone by phone if they have a warrant, and would never ask for any type of payment over the phone.
An actual sheriff’s deputy called the 904 number Friday and spoke to a man with a Middle-Eastern accent who said he was with Federal Claims Court.
Research done by the sheriff’s office discovered that Federal Claims Court does not exist, but another government agency – the U.S. Court of Federal Claims – hears monetary claims against the United States.
Investigators with the Criminal Investigations Division warn anyone that it is dangerous to give personal or financial information over the phone to anyone you do not know.
Information from: Dona Ana County