Attorney General Balderas warns of COVID-19 scams

Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a consumer safety advisory, warning New Mexican consumers of various scams related to the coronavirus outbreak. This advisory comes in the wake of many reports to the Office of the Attorney General of consumer price gouging and COVID-19 scams emerging in New Mexico. Any New Mexican that is suspicious of price gouging or scamming activity is urged to immediately file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General at nmag.gov.

• COVID-19 HOTLINE SCAM Please be aware there are several phishing scams where the caller impersonates a representative from the COVID-19 Hotline or other medical entity. The scammer is asking for personal information like social security and date of birth, telling callers they must have that information in order to release COVID-19 testing results. remind the public that we will never ask for your social security number. Any confirmation of a positive COVID-19 swab test will be made by the clinic where you were seen or the New Mexico Department of Health.
• GENERAL PHONE SCAMS If anyone makes an empty promise that requires up front payment, demands personal or financial information, or asks you to pay them with a gift card, this is likely a scam. Do your research. Please remember that real legal notices are sent in writing and are not communicated over the phone.
• DOOR-TO-DOOR SCAMS Recently, there have been reports of groups or individuals going door-to-door falsely claiming to be doing in-home testing for coronavirus. Some scammers may claim to be from the government or authorized by the government.
• COVID-19 CURE SCAMS There is no FDA-approved cure for coronavirus. Any company claiming that their product can prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure coronavirus without competent medical research supporting their claims is breaking the law. There is no credible evidence that coronavirus can be cured by drinking bleach, drinking colloidal silver, taking herbal supplements, or using other homeopathic remedies. When in doubt, consult a medical professional.
• IMPLIED CLAIMS SCAMS In order to evade liability, some companies will merely imply that their products prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure coronavirus. Read claims carefully so you understand what is being promised and what is not.
• E-MAIL PHISHING SCAMS Do not click on links sent to you by people you don't know. In the wake of disasters like the coronavirus outbreak, scammers will often email or text consumers claiming to offer things like free vaccines or free testing kits. Scammer will also attempt to collect personal information by impersonating a government agency like the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and others. Never provide your personal information to someone you don't know.
• FUNDRAISING SCAMS If anyone asks you for a donation to a coronavirus-related charity, do your homework before donating. Visit the Attorney General's Charities webpage to search for legitimate charities (https://www.nmag.gov/charities.aspx) and do not donate to anyone asking for cash, gift cards, or for money to be sent to them via wire transfer.
• GENERAL DISINFORMATION SPREADING Know how to spot disinformation. Many websites will post misleading or inflammatory information about coronavirus in order to drive up page views and make money from advertisers. Here is a list of websites that have been reported for posting or publishing false information about the coronavirus outbreak: https://www.newsguardtech.com/coronavirus-misinformation-tracking-center/. For legitimate information, visit the State of New Mexico's comprehensive resource site (https://www.newmexico.gov/); the CDC's website (https://www.cdc.gov/); or the World Health Organization's website (https://www.who.int/).