505 Area Code Scams - How to Protect Yourself

Common 505 Scams

• Imposter Calls: Fraudsters pose as local law enforcement (e.g., Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office), federal courts, or Animal Control. They may claim you missed a court date, have a warrant, or that a found pet needs expensive emergency surgery, demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest.
• Virtual Kidnapping: A highly emotional, distressing call where a scammer claims to have kidnapped a family member, demanding ransom.
• FBI/Federal Scams: Callers falsely claim to be FBI agents, stating you are under investigation and must submit a fine immediately over the phone.

Warning Signs

• Payment Demands: Legitimate government agencies, courts, or police departments will never demand payment over the phone using methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
• Urgency & Threats: Scammers create artificial urgency to panic you into acting without verifying the information.

How to Protect Yourself

• Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. Let them go to voicemail so you can review them safely.
• Verify before acting: If someone claims to be from a specific agency, hang up and independently call their official, published dispatch or administrative number.