Scammers Target New Mexico Radiation Victims Eligible for $100,000 RECA Compensation
Scam artists are defrauding New Mexico "Downwinders" eligible for $100,000 under the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), signed into law July 4, 2025, for the first time covering victims of the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of fraudulent claims assistance, including a booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair collecting Social Security numbers. Advocates push to extend RECA beyond 2028 and raise compensation to $150,000.
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Scammers target New Mexico atomic test victims' compensation
Scam artists are exploiting the newly available $100,000 compensation for New Mexico 'Downwinders' affected by the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was expanded in July 2025 to include these victims for the first time in 80 years. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of rampant fraud, citing a fake claims booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair that collected Social Security numbers and personal data. Advocates, including Tina Cordova of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, are pushing for RECA to be extended beyond its 2028 sunset and for compensation to be raised to $150,000. The program has already approved over 41,000 claims totaling $2.6 billion since 1990.
Scammers target New Mexico downwinders eligible for $100,000 radiation compensation
Scam artists are exploiting the recent expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which now provides $100,000 to New Mexico 'Downwinders' affected by the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of fraudulent claims assistance booths, such as one at the Eastern Navajo Fair, where scammers collected Social Security numbers and other personal data. The RECA expansion, signed into law on July 4, 2025, marked the first federal acknowledgment of New Mexicans' entitlement to compensation 80 years after the Trinity blast. Advocates, including Tina Cordova of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, are pushing to extend the program beyond its 2028 sunset and increase payouts to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling more than $2.6 billion.
Scammers target $100,000 payouts for New Mexico atomic bomb test victims
Scam artists are targeting the $100,000 compensation now available to eligible New Mexico victims of radiation exposure from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test, following a major expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) signed into law on July 4, 2025. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of rampant fraud, urging victims to guard against bad actors. An incident at the Eastern Navajo Fair in Crown Point involved a booth collecting Social Security numbers and personal data under the guise of filing claims. The RECA expansion, part of President Trump's tax-cutting bill, finally included New Mexico 'Downwinders' after 80 years. Advocates are pushing to extend RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increase compensation from $100,000 to $150,000.
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Scam artists target $100,000 payouts for New Mexico atomic bomb test victims
Scam artists are exploiting the newly available $100,000 compensation for New Mexico 'Downwinders' affected by the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was expanded in July 2025 to include these victims for the first time in 80 years. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of fraudulent claims assistance, including a bogus booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair that collected Social Security numbers. Advocates are pushing to extend RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increase compensation to $150,000. The article highlights ongoing justice efforts for all radiation-affected communities.
Scammers target $100,000 payouts for New Mexico atomic bomb test victims
Scam artists are exploiting the recent expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which now provides $100,000 to eligible New Mexico 'Downwinders' affected by the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of fraudulent claims assistance, including a booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair that collected Social Security numbers and other personal data. The RECA expansion, signed into law on July 4, 2025, marks the first federal acknowledgment of New Mexico victims after 80 years. Advocates are pushing for an extension of the program beyond its 2028 sunset and an increase in compensation to $150,000. The article highlights ongoing risks to vulnerable families seeking long-overdue compensation.
Scammers target $100,000 payouts for New Mexico radiation victims from first atomic bomb test
Scam artists are targeting the $100,000 compensation now available to eligible New Mexico victims of radiation exposure from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test, according to New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was expanded in July 2025 to include New Mexico 'Downwinders' for the first time in 80 years. Advocates warn of rampant fraud, including a reported scam booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair that collected Social Security numbers and other personal data under the guise of filing claims. Rep. Gabe Vasquez called for extending RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increasing compensation to $150,000. The program has approved over 41,000 claims totaling $2.6 billion since 1990. The warnings came ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Trinity blast on July 16, 1945.
Scammers target New Mexico radiation victims eligible for $100,000 RECA payouts
Scam artists are exploiting the recent expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to target New Mexico 'Downwinders' and their families, who are now eligible for $100,000 payouts for radiation exposure from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of fraudulent claims assistance booths, such as one at the Eastern Navajo Fair that collected Social Security numbers and other personal data. The RECA expansion, signed into law in July 2025, marks the first federal acknowledgment of New Mexico victims after 80 years. Advocates are pushing to extend RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increase compensation to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling $2.6 billion.
Scammers Target New Mexico Downwinders' Radiation Compensation Payouts
Scam artists are exploiting the newly available $100,000 compensation for New Mexico victims of radiation exposure from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test, according to state officials and advocates. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was expanded in July 2025 to include New Mexico 'Downwinders' for the first time, 80 years after the blast. At a virtual news conference ahead of the 81st anniversary, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of rampant fraud, including a booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair that collected Social Security numbers and other personal data under the guise of claims assistance. Advocates are also pushing to extend RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increase payouts from $100,000 to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling more than $2.6 billion.
Scammers target New Mexico atomic test victims' compensation
Scam artists are targeting eligible New Mexico victims of radiation exposure from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test, who are now entitled to $100,000 under a major expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) signed into law on July 4, 2025. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of rampant fraud, with scammers already operating a bogus claims booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair in Crown Point, New Mexico, collecting Social Security numbers and personal data. The expansion finally includes New Mexico 'Downwinders' excluded from the original 1990 RECA. Advocates are pushing to extend RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increase compensation to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling more than $2.6 billion.
Scammers target families eligible for atomic test compensation in New Mexico
Scam artists are targeting New Mexico victims and families eligible for $100,000 compensation under the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which for the first time includes Downwinders from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez warned of bad actors attempting to steal payouts. At a virtual news conference ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Trinity blast, Rep. Gabe Vasquez highlighted rampant fraud, including a bogus claims booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair that requested Social Security numbers and other personal data. Advocates are pushing to extend RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increase compensation to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling $2.6 billion.
Scammers target New Mexico radiation victims eligible for $100,000 RECA compensation
Scam artists are targeting New Mexico residents eligible for $100,000 in compensation under the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which for the first time includes Downwinders from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez warned of bad actors attempting to defraud victims. At a virtual news conference ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Trinity blast, Rep. Gabe Vasquez and advocates highlighted fraud attempts, including a booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair that collected Social Security numbers and other personal data under the guise of claims assistance. The RECA expansion was signed into law on July 4, 2025, as part of a broader tax bill. Advocates are pushing to extend the program beyond its 2028 sunset and increase compensation from $100,000 to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling more than $2.6 billion.
Scammers target families eligible for atomic bomb test compensation in New Mexico
Scam artists are targeting the $100,000 compensation now available to eligible New Mexico victims of radiation exposure from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test, according to state Attorney General Raul Torrez. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was expanded in July 2025 to include New Mexico 'Downwinders' for the first time in 80 years. Even before claims could be filed, scammers set up a booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair in Crown Point, New Mexico, handing out fake forms requesting Social Security numbers and other personal data. Rep. Gabe Vasquez urged eligible recipients to guard against fraud and called for extending RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increasing compensation from $100,000 to $150,000. Advocacy groups continue to push for broader coverage of radiation-related illnesses.
Scammers target $100,000 payouts for New Mexico atomic test victims
Scam artists are exploiting the newly expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which now provides $100,000 to New Mexico 'Downwinders' affected by the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of fraudulent claims assistance, including a booth at the Eastern Navajo Fair that collected Social Security numbers. The expansion, signed into law on July 4, 2025, as part of a tax bill, marks the first federal acknowledgment of New Mexico victims after 80 years. Advocates, including Tina Cordova of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, are pushing to extend RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increase compensation to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling $2.6 billion.
Scammers target $100,000 payouts for New Mexico atomic bomb test victims
Scam artists are exploiting the newly available $100,000 compensation for New Mexico 'Downwinders' affected by the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test, according to state Attorney General Raul Torrez. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was expanded in July 2025 to include these victims for the first time in 80 years. At a virtual news conference ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Trinity blast, Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of rampant fraud and urged eligible families to guard against bad actors. An incident at the Eastern Navajo Fair involved a booth collecting Social Security numbers under the guise of claims assistance. Advocates are also pushing to extend RECA beyond its 2028 sunset and increase compensation to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling more than $2.6 billion.
Scammers target $100,000 payouts for New Mexico families affected by first atomic bomb test
Scam artists are targeting the $100,000 compensation now available to eligible New Mexico victims of radiation exposure from the 1945 Trinity atomic bomb test, according to state Attorney General Raul Torrez. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was expanded in July 2025 to include New Mexico 'Downwinders' for the first time in 80 years. At a virtual news conference ahead of the 81st anniversary of the Trinity blast, Rep. Gabe Vasquez warned of 'rampant fraud' and urged victims to guard against bad actors. An incident at the Eastern Navajo Fair involved a booth collecting Social Security numbers and personal data under the guise of filing claims. Advocates are calling for RECA to be extended beyond its 2028 sunset and for compensation to be increased from $100,000 to $150,000. Since 1990, RECA has approved over 41,000 claims totaling more than $2.6 billion.