By Linda Bentley | NOVEMBER 25, 2015
Scammers impersonate Attorney General’s Office
PHOENIX – Attorney General Mark Brnovich today is warning Arizonans of an alarming new phone scam in which con artists pose as representatives of the Attorney General’s Office to steal money from consumers. The scammers appear to be targeting consumer fraud victims who have lost money in past telemarketing scams. The con artists falsely claim they can help victims get their money back. Victims are conned into paying hundreds of dollars and receive nothing in return.
“These crooks have stooped to a new low by revictimizing some of our most vulnerable consumers,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “Our office will never contact victims of consumer fraud and ask them for money. We are aggressively pursuing the perpetrators of this despicable scam."
Once a consumer is defrauded, it is not unusual for scammers to trade a victim’s contact information with other scamming entities. In this particular scam, letters are mailed and phone calls are made to previous victims of consumer fraud. The scammers claim to be a “legal aid” employed by the Attorney General’s Office tasked with contacting consumers to help them get their money back. Scammers know the victim’s name and how much money the victim lost in a previous scam. Victims are told they are eligible to get their money back, but must first make a payment of a few hundred dollars. It’s a new twist on an advanced fee scheme in which consumers are duped into providing money up front in order to receive something of greater value in return, when in all actuality consumers receive nothing.
Attorney General Mark Brnovich Offers These Tips:
The Attorney General’s Office will never ask consumers to make a payment for services provided.
The Attorney General’s Office does not call or mail consumers demanding immediate payment for allegedly overdue bills or unpaid fees.
Consumers should be cautious about paying in advance for services. Pay for services only after they are delivered.
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from or affiliated with the Attorney General’s Office and they ask for money or financial information, contact the AGO directly to verify at 602-542-5025 or 520-628-6504.
If you believe you have been a victim of consumer fraud, you may file a consumer complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. To file a consumer complaint online, please visit https://www.azag.gov/complaints/consumer. If you have questions or would like to request a complaint form, contact the Consumer Information & Complaints Unit at 602-542-5763 in Phoenix, 520-628-6504 in Tucson, or toll free outside metro Phoenix, 1-800-352-8431.
