Phone and Email Scams

Beware of Possible Phishing Attack Emails

July 11, 2024 - The State Bar of New Mexico's IT department has been alerted to a possible phishing attack that has targeted the members of other Bar Associations around the country. Our IT department is in close contact with the other Bar Associations around the country to proactively protect our membership from being affected. Please be aware that you may receive a possible phishing attack email purported to be from the State Bar of New Mexico. It will be from a domain address such as:

• @members-nmbar.org
• @member-nmbar.org
• @members-sbnm.org
• @member-sbnm.org

These are fraudulent domain names. If you do receive this email, please disregard it, do not respond to it, and do not click any links that may come from it, especially if you have already responded to it. 

If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact the State Bar of New Mexico's IT Department at 505-797-6018 or techsupport@sbnm.org. Thank you for your continued diligence in security. 

Warning: Fraudulent Phone Calls/Emails Regarding Contempt Orders and False Claims Re the PPP Loan Program Surface in the District of New Mexico 

February 23, 2024 - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico has recently been notified of individuals both in New Mexico and outside of New Mexico being targeted with a new phone and email scam. The targets are contacted by phone by an individual claiming to be a member of court staff or an investigator looking into false claims regarding a COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program loan. The scammer informs the target that they failed to appear for a court hearing. The name given by the scammer may be an actual employee or member of the law enforcement/legal community, which helps the scammer legitimize their threats. The scammer then attempts to confirm an email address with the target, and once confirmed the scammer sends the target a variety of documents purportedly signed by a judge, including an Order of Arrest and an Investigation Notice. The judge’s name may be an actual federal judge. The scammer may eventually ask for personal identifiers or for immediate payment of fines, but this information is not always made during the initial contact. While court and jury related scam calls and emails have been occurring for several years in New Mexico, this is the first report the District of New Mexico has received in which documents purportedly signed by a judge are sent to the target.

The U.S. District Court will never ask for sensitive information in an unsolicited phone call or email and will not assess a fine or penalty for failure to appear in federal court without first having the person appear before a judge.

It is a crime for anyone to falsely represent himself of herself as a federal court official and such an offense is taken very seriously by the federal judiciary. Persons receiving such a telephone call should not provide the requested information or pay any fines and should contact the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) at (505) 889-1300, select option #1 when prompted, to report the incident. In the District of New Mexico, the individual may also contact the United States District Court at 505-348-2000 to verify that there are no matters pending before the court in their name.

Stay current with the United States Courts – District of New Mexico by visiting www.nmd.uscourts.gov

Read full press release here.