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Las Cruces police are encouraging residents to be cautious when it comes to sharing financial and personal information with others.
Over the past few years police have seen an uptick in scams and fraudulent activity that’s resulted in victims losing hundreds and, in some cases, thousands of dollars.
In one of the most recent scams, a 37-year-old Las Cruces man thought he was purchasing a travel trailer that was advertised for sale on OfferUp, a popular marketplace app that emphasizes customer-to-customer transactions.
The man communicated only electronically with the seller and agreed to pay $800, sight unseen, for a used travel trailer. The would-be buyer wired $800 in digital currency to the person he believed was the seller only to receive additional communication demanding another $800. The would-be buyer then realized he had been scammed.
Unfortunately, it is oftentimes difficult for law enforcement to track digital currency transactions. It is unlikely the victim in this case will recoup his $800.
The Las Cruces Police Department suggests following these and other safety precautions: