Sandoval County warns of scammers posing as deputies, $109 phishing notices

The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office posted a public warning on social media March 4–5 after receiving reports that scammers were impersonating law-enforcement officers by phone, text or email. At the same time county officials flagged a separate mailed phishing notice asking homeowners to send $109 for a property assessment profile and a grant deed.

The sheriff’s office warning bluntly stated, “Scammers are impersonating Law Enforcement.” A Facebook copy of the post added, “THESE ARE SCAMS! Scammers spoof phone numbers and email addresses to appear legitimate. NO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER will ask you for money.” The social-media posting urged caution when contacted by anyone claiming to be a deputy.

Local reporting and the county advisory describe how the impersonation attempts have worked: callers or messages claim a warrant, bond or other law-enforcement matter and ask for personal information or funds. Reports warn scammers may instruct payments by ATM deposits, gift cards, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards or cryptocurrency. The public was instructed not to engage with anyone over the phone, by text or by email who claims to be a law enforcement officer and is asking for personal information or funds, and to report contacts about warrants or bonds to local law enforcement.

Separately, Sandoval County Treasurer Jennifer Taylor examined a mailed notice brought to her attention that requested $109 to obtain a property assessment profile and a grant deed. Taylor said, “We immediately looked at it and it was clear it was not from our office or from our county clerk's office.” She noted the mailed document did not include the county emblem or indicate which office it was coming from, saying, “Everything that comes from Sandoval County, will usually have our emblem that is attached to it, as well as which office it's coming from. The document being sent out doesn’t have either.”

Taylor told county residents the letters requested payment to an out-of-state address, calling that detail a red flag: “It is an out-of-state address. That is another red flag that people should be looking for. Nothing that we send out from our office is ever outsourced outside the county.” She also directed homeowners to obtain recorded deeds directly from county offices, stating, “I want everybody to know that anytime they have documents like recorded deeds they want to obtain, they can obtain it from our office,” and noting, “Those records also won't cost $109,” adding, “We only charge a dollar from the clerk's office.” Taylor provided the treasurer's office phone number, 505-867-7581, for anyone suspicious of mailed notices.

Federal penalties for the mailed scheme are steep: mail fraud is a felony that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, and fines up to $250,000. County notices and local reporting emphasize two distinct threats in Sandoval County this month: impersonation attempts by phone, text and email, and a separate mailed phishing letter seeking $109. Officials have not provided counts of victims or arrests in available statements.

Sandoval County officials are urging vigilance: do not send money or provide personal information to callers or mailers that lack county emblems or office identification, report alleged warrants or bonds to local law enforcement, and call the treasurer's office at 505-867-7581 with suspicious mailed documents.