Law enforcement personnel have learned that someone is attempting to perpetrate a scam using the name of a Las Cruces Police Department officer.
In at least two instances, a caller has identified himself as “Detective Michael Henke” from the Las Cruces Police Department and has mentioned he’s calling from the “civil division.” Although LCPD has a supervisor by that name, he is not making those calls and LCPD does not have a “civil division.”
The individuals who have reported receiving such calls told police the caller suggested there is a “federal citation” in their name, and it can somehow be resolved over the telephone.
Police learned the calls show up on Caller ID as coming from a “575” phone number or from a small New Mexico town. At least one call appears to have come from Cimarron, N.M. It’s very well likely the fictitious phone calls are from a telephone number or location that does not correspond to what appears on the Caller ID.
More often, scammers are trying to take advantage of unsuspecting victims in any way possible. If you receive an unsolicited call from an unknown individual, or a robocall, it’s likely a scam attempt.
Las Cruces police recommend following these safety tips:
- Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who calls, texts or otherwise contacts you unsolicited.
- Do not engage in conversation with unsolicited callers.
- Do not press numbers if prompted to select from a menu.
- Block unwanted or repeat spam telephone numbers on your cell phone.
- Consider registering your phone number(s) on the Federal Trade Commission’s free Do Not Call Registry. Go to DoNotCall.gov or call toll free 888/382-1222 (TTY: 866/290-4236) from the phone you want to register.
Anyone who has been victimized by a suspected scam call is encouraged to call police at 575/526-0795.