Las Cruces police have issued a warning to residents about scams that seek personal information or money through unsolicited calls, text messages, or social media contacts. These scams often promise personal happiness or financial gain but are ultimately designed to benefit the scammer.
The police noted that many of these scams appear on Caller ID as originating from a 575 area code or small towns in New Mexico. However, some calls may not correspond with the displayed phone number. Scammers also use social media, text, or direct messaging to reach potential victims.
Las Cruces police provided several safety tips for residents: avoid giving out personal or financial information to unknown callers, never share passwords or PINs, and refrain from sending money to unfamiliar organizations or individuals. They also warned against overpayment scams involving bogus checks and advised against purchasing items sight unseen unless from a trusted source.
Residents should be cautious if a deal seems too good to be true and avoid engaging with unsolicited callers. Police recommend not pressing numbers on your phone when prompted by unknown callers and using known contact numbers for utility providers or financial institutions instead of those given by suspicious individuals.
Attachments and links from unknown sources should not be opened unless their legitimacy is confirmed. Suspicious social media accounts should be reported using platform security tools, and suspicious telephone numbers and follow requests should be blocked.
The Federal Trade Commission offers a free Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov or via phone at 1-888-382-1222 (TTY: 1-866-290-4236) for those wishing to register their phone numbers.
Victims of suspected scam calls are encouraged to contact the Las Cruces police at (575) 526-0795.
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