The City of Santa Fe announced on April 29 that fraudulent emails are being sent to residents and businesses, falsely claiming to be from the city and attempting to solicit payments. These messages ask for payment for items such as city-issued licenses, fees, or utility billing.
The city said these emails are not legitimate and urged recipients not to respond or send any payments until the request has been verified. The announcement highlights that the City of Santa Fe only accepts payments through specific channels: ACH payments via an established vendor system, checks mailed to a verified city address, or payments processed through an official city payment portal. The city does not request payment or banking changes through unsolicited email.
Residents and businesses are advised to take precautions before making any payment in response to an email. They should call the City of Santa Fe Constituent Services at 505-955-6949 to verify any requests, confirm invoices through existing vendor or payment systems, and validate any banking or payment changes with a known city contact rather than relying on information from the sender of a suspicious email.
“Thank you for helping protect yourself and others from fraud,” the statement reads.
The City also reminds people that it offers various newsletters with event announcements, breaking news, recreation updates, and road construction reports. Residents can personalize their news preferences online.
