If you encounter suspicious individuals claiming to work for the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), report them to PNM or local authorities. PNM says summer brings many good things, but it also attracts scammers.
In a recent post on Nextdoor, a resident called out three men allegedly posing as PNM workers going around Nob Hill. Nextdoor is a neighborhood discussion platform where users share updates, post polls and events, and ask for recommendations.
The poster claimed the three men drove around to see who was home and who was away. He also shared a photo showing one of them making an obscene gesture at him.
According to the post, he asked to see the men’s PNM badges, which is exactly the step you should take in such situations.
“Our employees always carry proper identification. That includes their badge. And they’ll always present that badge if they’re asked, so that’s another sign. If you’re unsure if it’s a PNM employee, you can ask for their badge,” PNM Spokesperson Eric Chavez told KOB 4.
One commenter believes the same three men recently approached his mother-in-law and asked for her social security number.
How to Spot Legitimate PNM Workers
Whether they seek access to your property or personal information, PNM said its employees will never show up unannounced.
“That’s kind of the first thing and the main thing that we tell our customers, is that we will not go to your home unless we have a scheduled appointment,” said Chavez. “Did you schedule an appointment with PNM? No? Then it’s not gonna be PNM knocking at your door.”
According to KOB 4, PNM said you may receive a phone call instead of an in-person visit. Chavez noted the time of the call can reveal whether you are speaking with an actual employee.
“You know, outside of the normal 9-5, 8-5 area, we’re not gonna be calling customers to disconnect their power,” said Chavez.
He also stated that PNM never asks customers for money over the phone. If someone does, it is a scam.
Report Possible Scams
Chavez said PNM encourages customers to report potential scams so the utility can stay ahead of them. You can report a scam by filing out this online form. You can also learn how to protect yourself at PNM.com/scams. To contact police, call the non-emergency line at 505-242-COPS.
Chavez added customers can also use social media to spread the word.
“Communicate with each other. Talk with your neighbor,” he said. “You know, this is a good example of one, right? You know, Nextdoor is getting the word out. ‘Hey, these people are going around pretending to be PNM.’ It’s always great to have that community backing, right?”
