Fraud by program in New Mexico
| Program | Announcements | More |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3 | All Unemployment cases |
| PPP/EIDL | 1 | All PPP/EIDL cases |
| Medicaid | 1 | All Medicaid cases |
| Housing | 1 | All Housing cases |
Where to report fraud in New Mexico
| Type of fraud | Report to |
|---|---|
| Medicaid provider fraud | Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (listed by HHS-OIG as 'Medicaid Fraud & Elder Abuse') · New Mexico Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General) · 505-717-3500 |
| SNAP, child care assistance, cash assistance | NM Health Care Authority: Report Fraud (Office of Inspector General, 1-800-228-4802; covers SNAP, TANF, Medicaid) |
| Unemployment benefits | NM Department of Workforce Solutions: Report UI Fraud (505-243-7283) |
| Medicare and other HHS programs | HHS-OIG · 1-800-HHS-TIPS |
| Any WHIP-covered federal program, if you want a reward | America.gov/fraud (how to submit) |
Whistleblower rewards in New Mexico
| Program | What it pays | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Fraud Against Taxpayers Act Covers all state funds (also political subdivisions and charter schools, per the 2015 amendment) | 15–25% if the state or political subdivision proceeds (no more than 10% if based primarily on publicly disclosed information, unless the relator is an original source who contributed significantly); 25–30% if it does not proceed. | NMSA 1978, §§ 44-9-1 to 44-9-14; relator share at § 44-9-7 |
| Federal WHIP | $10,000–$30,000 per tip that leads to criminal charges | DOJ terms |
| Federal False Claims Act | 15–25% of the recovery if the government intervenes; 25–30% if not | 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d) |
New Mexico has two qui tam statutes. (1) The Fraud Against Taxpayers Act (above). OIG found it Not Approved on 7/24/08 because its public-disclosure bar lacked an original-source exception. (2) The Medicaid False Claims Act, NMSA §§ 27-14-1 et seq. (Laws 2004, ch. 49). Its relator share at § 27-14-9 is 15–25% if the department (the state Medicaid agency, now the Health Care Authority) proceeds, capped at 10% if based primarily on public disclosures, and 25–30% if it does not; there it is the department, not the AG, that takes over the case. § 27-14-9 appears unamended since 2004 (a 2023 rewrite, SB 138, died). The FATA URL is the 2015 enrolled bill containing the current text of § 44-9-7; NMOneSource (the official compilation) is JavaScript-only, so no stable section URL was retrievable. Medicaid FCA 2004 text: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/04%20Regular/final/HB0468.pdf. The AG's office is now styled the 'New Mexico Department of Justice' (nmag.gov redirects to nmdoj.gov).
Estimate federal awards for your case with the calculator, or compare programs in WHIP vs the False Claims Act.
Latest announcements
| Date | Announcement | Program | Stage | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-14 | District of New Mexico Joins DOJ Fraud Division, SBA, and SBA OIG in Surge Takedown Exceeding $245 Million in COVID-era Loan Fraud | PPP/EIDL | Charged | — |
| 2026-07-20 | New Mexico Woman Pleads Guilty to $4M Medicaid Fraud | Medicaid | Pleaded guilty | $4M |
| 2026-07-08 | Former Santa Fe Nonprofit Executive Agrees to Pay $735,000 to Resolve HUD Grant Fraud Allegations | Housing | Civil settlement | $735K |
| 2025-11-14 | Texas Man Indicted on Federal Charges for COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud Scheme | Unemployment | Charged | — |
| 2025-11-13 | Roswell Woman Sentenced for Multi-Year Fraud Schemes Targeting COVID Relief and Tax Refunds | Unemployment | Sentenced | $183K |
| 2025-11-13 | Belen Man Pleads Guilty to $50,000 Unemployment Fraud Scheme | Unemployment | Pleaded guilty | $50K |
Source: U.S. Department of Justice press releases, classified by WHIP Reward. Each row is one press release; the same case can appear at several stages, so amounts should not be added. Charged cases are allegations. Search all 6 in the database.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report Medicaid fraud in New Mexico?
Report provider fraud to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (listed by HHS-OIG as 'Medicaid Fraud & Elder Abuse') (New Mexico Department of Justice (Office of the Attorney General)), or to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. To be eligible for a federal WHIP award, also submit the tip in writing at America.gov/fraud.
Does New Mexico pay whistleblowers?
Yes. Under the Fraud Against Taxpayers Act (NMSA 1978, §§ 44-9-1 to 44-9-14; relator share at § 44-9-7), a whistleblower who files a case receives 15–25% if the state or political subdivision proceeds (no more than 10% if based primarily on publicly disclosed information, unless the relator is an original source who contributed significantly); 25–30% if it does not proceed.. Federal programs (WHIP and the federal False Claims Act) apply as well.
How many fraud cases has the DOJ announced in New Mexico?
6 announcements since January 20, 2025 in our database, counting each press release separately (a case can appear at charge, plea and sentencing). 1 of them announced a sentence.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice: Whistleblower Rewards Program
- nmdoj.gov/about-the-office/criminal-affairs
- nmlegis.gov/Sessions/15%20Regular/final/SB0208.PDF
- nmlegis.gov/Sessions/04%20Regular/final/HB0468.pdf
- nmlegis.gov/Sessions/23%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0138.html
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/state-false-claims-act-reviews
- oig.hhs.gov/documents/false-claims-act/265/NewMexico.pdf
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/medicaid-fraud-control-units-mfcu/files/contact-directors.pdf
- naag.org/about-naag/namfcu/about-the-medicaid-fraud-control-units
- hca.nm.gov/lookingforassistance/report_fraud
- dws.nm.gov/en-us/Unemployment/Unemployment-for-an-Individual/What-You-Should-Know-About-UI/UI-Fraud
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases (justice.gov/news)