The Ensenada municipal government issued an urgent alert on Thursday warning business owners about a phone scam in which callers impersonate Protección Civil (Civil Protection) officials and demand immediate payments to avoid supposed inspections.
Julio César Obregón Angulo, head of the Municipal Civil Protection Coordination, confirmed that criminals are calling local businesses while posing as official inspectors. The callers threaten to carry out inspections and demand payments through bank transfers or cash deposits.
Calls Coming From Out-of-Area Numbers
According to Obregón Angulo, the fraudulent calls are originating from phone numbers outside the Ensenada area. The scammers pressure business owners into making quick payments, claiming the money is needed to prevent penalties or sanctions.
The city government made clear that every one of these calls is fake. Legitimate Civil Protection personnel never call businesses to request payments, deposits, or bank transfers of any kind. Real inspections are always conducted in person by credentialed staff who carry official government letterhead documents.
How to Tell a Real Inspection From a Scam
Ensenada officials outlined several key points for business owners to identify genuine Civil Protection activity. Authorized inspectors always visit in person and present official credentials. They carry documentation on government letterhead that can be verified.
Any fees associated with real inspections are paid only at official Ensenada government cashier windows (cajas recaudadoras), never through phone-based bank transfers or deposits. No legitimate inspector will ever ask for money over the phone.
What to Do if You Receive a Scam Call
The city government urges anyone who receives one of these calls to hang up immediately and report it to 9-1-1. Business owners should not engage with the callers or provide any personal or financial information.
Phone-based extortion scams targeting businesses are a recurring problem across Baja California. Criminals frequently impersonate government agencies, utility companies, and law enforcement to pressure victims into quick payments. The Ensenada government’s public alert aims to cut off this particular scheme before more business owners fall victim.
This story was first reported by La Jornada Baja California.