Helping to Protect Our Military and Veterans
from Consumer Scams
Safeguarding our freedom during war and peacetime is the ultimate gift our military personnel and veterans provide each of us. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude. The Attorney General's Office is committed to protecting Arizona military personnel, their dependents and veterans. Current Service members, veterans and their families can choose from the list of links below to find valuable information.
Free Credit Reports 
Military personnel and veterans can also protect themselves against ID theft by monitoring their credit reports to determine if someone has applied for or obtained credit in their name. Provisions in the FCRA provide Arizonans with the opportunity to receive free copies of their credit reports once a year from each of the national credit reporting companies listed above.
To obtain the credit reports at no cost, consumers can contact a centralized source:
Telephone: 1.877.322.8228
Online: www.annualcreditreport.com
Mail: Complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form available at www.ftc.gov and
mail to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
More information on consumer fraud issues and ID theft prevention can be found on this Web site and in the Identity Theft Repair Kit.
If you think that you have been a victim of identity theft or any consumer scam, you should first contact the company in writing and specifically request the relief that you feel is appropriate. You may also file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General's Office (be sure to mention that you are a veteran, active duty personnel or military dependent):
| PHOENIX OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Consumer Information and Complaints 1275 West Washington Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2926 602.542.5763 or 800.352.8431 (outside of the Phoenix Metro Area) consumerinfo@azag.gov |
TUCSON OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL Consumer Information and Complaints 400 West Congress South Building, Suite 315 Tucson, Arizona 85701-1367 520.628.6504 or 800.352.8431 consumerinfo@azag.gov |
MILITARY AND VETERANS HOTLINE 1.866.879.5219
Because this Office receives thousands of complaints per year, not all of them can be fully investigated. However, you should receive a response to your complaint within two to three weeks. Many complaints result in Attorney General enforcement actions against companies or merchants. An enforcement action sometimes results in civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and refunds to affected consumers.
The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) provides active duty personnel with an opportunity to place an “active duty alert” on their credit reports in an effort to reduce identity theft during periods of deployment. This alert requires a business or financial institution to verify that the person applying for credit is not an imposter. Military personnel should contact any of the following three national credit reporting companies to place the “active duty alert”:
The “active duty alert” stays in effect for one year, unless the individual or his or her personal representative requests that it be removed before the year expires.
Attorney General Terry Goddard knows that veterans and military families comprise an important and growing part of Arizona’s population. To ensure that the Attorney General’s Office remains abreast of existing and emerging issues that impact veterans, active duty military and their families, Goddard has established a Military and Veterans Advisory Council.
Input from the Military and Veterans Advisory Council serves as an important source of guidance to ensure that the Attorney General’s Office continues to deliver high quality, innovative and practical solutions in areas related to Military and Veterans. These areas include consumer protection; enhancing/strengthening programs designed to promote the safety of veterans and military families; and educational initiatives of the Office.
The Attorney General’s Military and Veterans Advisory Council is a non-statutory group of independent, highly respected and informed community leaders that provides an important source of objective knowledge, experience and information to help guide and advise the Attorney General on Military and Veterans issues.
MEMBERS of the Attorney General’s Military/Veterans Advisory Council
| First | Last |
| John | Aldecoa |
| Robert | Barnes |
| Margy | Bons |
| Brad | Bridwell |
| Chris | Deschene |
| Jeff | Dollins |
| Ken | Fields |
| Gary | Fredricks |
| David | Hampton |
| Phil | Hanson |
| Ted | Jarvi |
| Dawn | Lake |
| David | Lucier |
| Bob | Madden |
| Gregg | Maxon |
| Dennis | McComb |
| Henry | Ong |
| Kathy | Pearce |
| Frank | Schmuck |
| Joan | Sisco |
| Art | Sloane |
| Joey | Strickland |
Event Highlights
On September 11, 2009, US VETS held a dedication ceremony for 20 units of low-income veteran housing at 804 E. Jones Avenue in Phoenix. The event remembered the tragedy of 9-11-2001, acknowledged the progress of today, and opened a few doors into a new tomorrow for the soldiers of yesterday. Attorney General Terry Goddard spoke of the importance of reaching out to help veterans who are struggling return to safe, happy and productive lives. He joined with in the ribbon cutting ceremony with US VETS State Director of Arizona, Brad Bridwell and Phoenix City Councilman, Michael Johnson
Message from Attorney General Terry Goddard: Showing Our Gratitude
