As National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) gets underway, Arizona's Attorney General Kris Mayes is taking a stand to educate and protect consumers from fraud. The AG has released a roundup of the top consumer complaints received in 2024, highlighting key areas where fraudulent activity is running rife and providing tips on how the public can safeguard themselves against such malpractices. In a powerful reminder to those who may feel at the mercy of scammers, Mayes affirmed, "For those consumers who live in fear of scams, for those who believe they are powerless, and for those who have been wronged by deceptive and unfair business practices, know that I am fighting for you as your Attorney General," according to a press release.
The Attorney General's office, through its Consumer Information and Complaints Unit (CIC), fielded an impressive 22,000 complaints last year while also managing around 28,775 phone call inquiries and responding to over 23,000 emails. As a result of their assiduous efforts, the CIC unit reclaimed a record-breaking $5.2 million for consumers who fell prey to duplicitous schemes in 2024.
Diving into the numbers, the AG's office cataloged the leading five complaint categories of 2024 as motor vehicle sales, repairs, and rentals; computer-related complaints, notably those involving web pages; mortgage and real estate issues; a variety of banking concerns; and the persistent nuisance of telemarketing, phone scams, and unsolicited text messages.
In an effort to proactively ward off future fraud, the AG's office provided a list of preventive strategies. For instance, in motor vehicle transactions, consumers are urged to secure all terms and promises in writing and guarantee full copies of every document. When dealing with banking services, vigilance is key: individuals should scrutinize their monthly statements for any unauthorized charges. And, against the insidious tide of telemarketing scams, the AG's sage advice is to staunchly refuse solicitations for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency in response to unexpected communications.
Victims of fraud are not left to navigate these waters alone, as the AG's office encourages them to file a complaint via the Attorney General’s website. For those unable or preferring not to file online, the AG provides phone numbers for offices in Phoenix and Tucson, as well as a toll-free number for individuals outside these metropolitan areas.
