FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 21, 2017
Contact: Matt Baca (505) 270-7148
Albuquerque, NM – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a Scam Alert regarding callers posing as officers of a “Consumer Protection Agency,” who have been telling New
Mexicans they’ve won hundreds of thousands of dollars in a sweepstakes allegedly conducted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The supposed winners are told they must first pay money to cover taxes, insurance and/or courier fees in order to claim their “prize.” The scammers are asking New Mexicans to send or wire upwards of $3,500 in order to claim their fictitious “prize.”
“It doesn’t get any lower than trying to steal from New Mexicans by fraudulently invoking a charity that serves innocent children fighting for their lives,” said Attorney General Balderas.
“Do not be fooled by this scam, and never, ever send money to claim a ‘prize.’ I’m urging New Mexico families to be on guard for this scam and to contact our office immediately if they receive scam calls.”
“Make-A-Wish New Mexico does not conduct sweepstakes and we do not participate in telemarketing of any type,” said Bob Biggers, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish New
Mexico. “We continue to do important work granting life-changing wishes for children in our state with critical illnesses, so it is incredibly disappointing that people would use the trusted name of Make-A-Wish in a fraudulent way.”
If you have to pay to claim a prize, it’s probably a scam—especially if you don’t remember entering a contest or drawing. The Office of the Attorney General is aware of at least one
consumer in New Mexico who has fallen victim to this scam. We urge New Mexicans to be vigilant in protecting themselves from scams like this, because once the money is sent, it may never be recovered.
Attorney General Balderas is asking New Mexicans who believe they have been contacted by a scammer, fallen victim to a scam, or have information regarding a scam call to contact the Office of the Attorney General at 505-717-3500.
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