The Raton Police Department is urging residents to remain vigilant following a sophisticated scam attempt reported today by a local resident.
A citizen initially received a message claiming their Amazon account had been suspended due to possible identity theft. Shortly afterward, they began receiving calls from individuals fraudulently claiming to be from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The scammers possessed alarming amounts of personal information, including the victim’s Social Security number and a list of previous Amazon orders. Using this information, they falsely claimed the victim had outstanding debts totaling over $300,000 linked to fraudulent accounts.
The victim was then provided with phone numbers supposedly belonging to official government agencies and an attorney in Minnesota. The scammers instructed the victim to:
Go to their bank
Use a false name
Set up a large money transfer involving thousands of dollars
The victim reported that the callers seemed extremely credible, and the contact information they were given appeared legitimate at first glance.
The situation escalated when the victim received another call from someone impersonating Raton Police Chief John Garcia.
Fortunately, the victim recognized the voice not to be that of the chief and contacted their bank before completing any transfer.
InBank staff also acted quickly, recognizing the suspicious nature of the transaction and halting the transfer before any funds were lost.
The scammer continued to call and send text messages to the victim until their number was blocked.
Important Safety Reminders
Never provide personal information—such as your Social Security number, bank account information, or login credentials—to anyone you do not personally know or trust.
Government agencies, banks, and major companies do not conduct business in this manner. They will never ask you to:
Use a fake name
Transfer money to “protect” your account
Confirm personal information over unsolicited phone calls
Scammers often have detailed personal data and may use official-sounding titles, phone numbers, or documents to appear legitimate.
If something feels off, hang up and call the organization directly using a verified number.
If you suspect fraud, contact your bank immediately and notify local law enforcement.
Please stay alert and share this information with friends, family, and neighbors—especially those who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams. These criminals do their homework, and their goal is to take as much money as possible from unsuspecting victims.
