SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico Department of Justice has launched a new public education campaign designed to help residents recognize, avoid, and report scams, including increasingly sophisticated schemes that use artificial intelligence.
The initiative, called “Stop. Drop. Verify.”, will provide free educational presentations and resources to communities, schools, organizations, and government partners across New Mexico.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the program was created in response to the growing challenges posed by modern scams, particularly those powered by AI technology.
“Scams are becoming increasingly more difficult to spot in the age of AI and education resources are slim,” Torrez said in a news release. “Our goal is to broaden awareness so New Mexicans will be armed with knowledge moving through the digital age.”
The campaign is built around a three-step approach designed to help people respond when they suspect a scam:
- Stop all contact and avoid responding, clicking links, sending money, or sharing personal information.
- Drop everything and immediately secure accounts by changing passwords and contacting financial institutions if necessary.
- Verify requests for money or information by contacting organizations directly through official channels or consulting trusted family members or friends.
State officials said the initiative will offer workshops and training opportunities aimed at increasing awareness of common fraud schemes and emerging threats involving artificial intelligence.
The Department of Justice also plans to make educational materials available online, including information about scam trends and reporting resources.
Community groups, schools, and organizations interested in hosting a training session can request presentations through the department’s website.
