Attorney General Balderas Warns of New Scams Targeting Wildfire Victims

Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 17 May 2022 17 May 2022

SANTA FE — Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a consumer advisory alerting New Mexicans to scams that appear to be targeting survivors of the Calf Canyon/Hermit’s Peak wildfires. 

“Many New Mexico families are dealing with the trauma of evacuation and some have lost everything to the wildfires,” said AG Balderas. “It is unimaginable to me that scammers are trying to take advantage of our citizens at such a horrific time.”

Victims of the fires should be careful of scams involving calls from persons claiming to be from the Federal Emergency Management Association, or FEMA. According to FEMA’s website, FEMA representatives do not ask for payment for services from disaster victims. FEMA will not reach out to survivors unsolicited unless a survivor has first contacted FEMA or applied for relief. If you doubt a FEMA representative is legitimate, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to report the incident.

There are many resources available for victims of the fire looking for help. Individuals in Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Miguel, and Valencia Counties who have experienced losses from these wildfires can apply to FEMA today in the following ways:

  • Apply online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/.
  • Call the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. MT.

For  information regarding donations, mental and emotional support resources, evacuation assistance, and food vouchers contact New Mexico Highlands University at https://www.nmhu.edu/hermit/#support. 

If you need support identifying shelter or other resources, you can call the state fire resource hotline at 1-800-432-2080, Option #4. 

The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management website is the central source for the latest information on the 2022 wildfires including information on Ready. Set. Go., evacuation centers, agricultural & livestock resources and other information regarding the fires: http://www.nmdhsem,org/2022-wildfires/. 

If you believe you or a loved one has become a victim of a scam or identity theft, report it immediately to your local law enforcement or contact the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General by calling 1-844-255-9210 or file a complaint online at https://www.nmag.gov/file-a-complaint.aspx. 

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