Tijuana’s Municipal Civil Protection office issued a public alert after receiving multiple reports of scam phone calls from people posing as agency staff to extort money from residents and business owners.
Director José Luis Jiménez González confirmed that callers have been threatening victims with inspections or fines unless they make immediate deposits or hand over personal banking information. He called the practice completely fraudulent.
How the Scam Works
The callers claim to represent Tijuana’s Protección Civil Municipal and warn recipients that their home or business faces an urgent inspection. They then demand a payment, typically a bank deposit or transfer, to cancel the supposed visit or avoid a fine.
In some cases, the scammers also request credit card numbers, bank account details, or other personal financial data. Jiménez González stressed that real Civil Protection personnel will never call to request deposits, payments, or banking information under any circumstances.
How to Spot a Legitimate Inspector
According to the agency, authentic Civil Protection staff follow a strict protocol when conducting inspections. They always arrive in person, not by phone. Legitimate inspectors wear official uniforms and carry photo identification badges. They present formal written documents authorizing the inspection. Their vehicles are clearly marked with government insignia.
Any interaction that begins with a phone call demanding money is fraudulent, the agency said. No government inspection in Tijuana requires advance payment by phone.
What to Do If You Receive a Scam Call
Residents who receive these calls should hang up immediately and make no payments. The city urges victims to report the incident to the anonymous tip line at 089, which operates around the clock.
Tijuana ranks among Mexican cities with the highest number of documented scam incidents targeting residents and visitors. Government impersonation schemes are a recurring tactic in the region, with scammers exploiting the fact that many people are unfamiliar with official inspection procedures.
Business owners who are unsure whether a scheduled inspection is legitimate can contact Tijuana’s Civil Protection office directly to verify. The agency encouraged residents to share the alert with neighbors and colleagues to limit the scam’s reach.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte on April 13, 2026.