City’s Consumer Protection Initiative Launches Scam Squad

December 19, 2019

The City of Albuquerque Consumer Financial Protection Initiative (CFPI), launched earlier this year by Mayor Tim Keller, has formed a Scam Squad of multiple agencies and community partners. The initiative will work together to educate the public about the threat of scams and help those who have been targeted by scammers.

Mayor Tim Keller said, “The consumer protection office we launched this year is helping Burqueños fight back against scams and consumer fraud. Side by side with our partners, we’re working to protect those most vulnerable to scams.”

The most common scam in Albuquerque, based on reports to the Federal Trade Commission, are imposter scams where the scammer pretends to be someone the victim trusts, like the IRS or the Social Security Administration. They use that trust to convince individuals to send money or give out personal and financial information.

CFPI Director Karen Meyers, who joined the City to head consumer protection efforts after stints with President Barack Obama’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the office of New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, said, “Scams can happen to anyone, but knowledge is the best way to avoid losing money or becoming a victim. The Scam Squad will work to improve information on how to avoid scams through cross-agency collaboration, targeted outreach and more effective response to consumers seeking help.”

The first meeting of the Scam Squad was held on November 20, 2019, at Albuquerque City Hall.  Multiple organizations, community partners and City offices have joined in this effort, including: the Department of Family and Community Services, the Albuquerque Police Department, the Department of Senior Affairs, the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, the Better Business Bureau, the Area Agency on Aging, New Mexico Legal Aid, Senior Citizen’s Law Office, La Red del Rio Abajo, and WESST.

Information about scams, what to do if you lost money or gave out personal information, and how to avoid them in the future can be found at the City’s new CFPI webpage: www.cabq.gov/cfpi.

For more information about the Scam Squad and upcoming meetings please contact Karen Meyers at [email protected].