The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is warning the public about a new scam in which individuals named in pending lawsuits are being contacted by fraudulent callers who claim their case has been resolved and demand immediate payment of a judgment over the phone. The callers falsely represent themselves as court officials.

“First and foremost, the court will never contact a party to collect payment of any judgment that has been entered by the Court in a civil case,” said Metro Court CEO Lissa Quintana.

While judgments can be issued without both parties present in court, any judgment entered by the Court is mailed or delivered in-person at the hearing or trial to all parties in a civil case.

“If you receive a call like this, you should immediately be skeptical,” Quintana said. “Scammers can access public information, including court records that may contain contact information for people named in lawsuits or facing criminal charges. You can always verify the status of your case through the court’s website or by calling the court directly at (505) 841-8151.”