Online Threat Alerts (OTA) - Alerting you to scams and frauds.

505 Area Code Scams - How to Protect Yourself
505 Area Code Scams - How to Protect Yourself

Scammers frequently "spoof" the 505 area code to make calls appear local and legitimate, hoping to bypass your caller ID. These impersonators use high-pressure tactics to steal money or personal information. The 505 area code covers New Mexico (including Albuquerque and Santa Fe

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.
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