Some skimmers have also begun to utilize miniature remote cameras to capture the PIN of card users as they pay at the pump. Other skimmers have acquired wireless technology to intercept signals used to transmit card data from gas pumps to their central computer networks.

Scottsdale Police this week issued an alert which advised bank customers to be on the lookout for skimmers at bank ATMs. After skimming devices were found on machines at two Scottsdale banks.

This is not an isolated matter. One bank in Arizona told the Attorney General’s Office that many of its branches statewide have customers who have reported skimming.

Attorney General Goddard is offering the following tips to help consumers avoid becoming the next victim of a skimmer:

• Go inside the store to process transactions and remain inside to sign all credit card receipts. Keep your receipts in a secure location or shred them to protect your identity.
• Arizona Federal Credit Union suggests that you can protect your PIN by selecting “credit” at a gas pump. When using a credit card, your liability from a stolen card is limited to $50.
• If you do suspect skimming, call law enforcement immediately. You should also alert the gas station attendant. Do not rely on the attendant to call the police, as there have been instances in the past of skimming being perpetrated by the employees of a service station.

If you believe you have been a victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Attorney General's Office in Phoenix at 602.542.5763, in Tucson at 520.628.6504, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1.800.352.8431. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Attorney General’s Website at www.azag.gov . To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General’s Office has satellite offices throughout the state with volunteers available to help. Locations and hours of operation are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site.

If you have questions, please contact Press Secretary Molly Edwards at 602.542.8019.

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(Phoenix, Ariz. - March 10, 2010) As foreclosures continue at a high rate in Arizona, they impact not only homeowners but also people renting properties that have gone into foreclosure. Attorney General Terry Goddard today provided information about the rights of tenants living in properties that are foreclosed.

Last May, Congress passed the “Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act” to protect renters who were being forced to immediately leave their homes with little notice when the properties they rented went into foreclosure. The law remains in effect until Dec. 31, 2012.

“Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, especially in housing,” Goddard said. “Both landlords and tenants should understand and follow the requirements of the new federal law. All too often consumers can be victimized if they don’t understand their rights and responsibilities.”

Under the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act:
-- All tenants must receive a 90-day notice before being evicted as the result of a foreclosure.
-- With some exceptions, the law requires that in the event of foreclosure, existing leases for renters are honored to the end of the term of their lease.
-- The stated exceptions are for tenants without a lease, tenants with a lease terminable at will under state law, or where the owner acquiring the property will occupy it as a primary residence. In these cases, the tenants must receive a minimum of 90 days notice to vacate the property.
-- This law does not affect the requirements of any state or local law that provides longer time periods or other additional protections for tenants.
--The new law does not require any agency to issue implementing regulations; these protections apply to foreclosures after May 20, 2009.
-- Although no federal or state agency is specifically charged with enforcing the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, if a landlord tries to evict a renter without following the law, the renter may be able to raise that as a defense in eviction proceedings.
For more information about the federal law, please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/. Arizona landlord-tenant laws can be found at www.azsos.gov. For information on foreclosure, please visit the Arizona Attorney General’s Foreclosure Resource Center at http://www.azag.gov/consumer/foreclosure/.

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(Phoenix, Ariz. - March 9, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today advised consumers about recent changes in federal law that require credit card issuers to disclose more information to customers. These laws also affect how the credit cards are marketed, advertised and managed.

Last year, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009, which gives consumers additional protections from abusive practices. With the new law in place, it is still important for credit card holders to familiarize themselves with the fine print in their contracts as well as review new provisions set forth by the CARD Act.

“In difficult economic times, credit card debt can mount and carve away at family finances,” said Goddard. “Even though the new law is a step in the right direction to protect consumers, card holders still should read the fine print in their contracts.”

Below are a few of the new credit card regulations and protections in the CARD Act:

● Age 21 and Older Requirement - Card companies are no longer allowed to issue a credit card to people under 21 unless they can provide the means to repay the debt or have an adult over 21 co-sign on the account. Additionally, card issuers cannot provide tangible gifts to students on campuses in exchange for applying for credit.
● Exceeding Credit Card Limits - In the past, if you exceeded your approved spending limit, you would not be contacted by the credit card companies, which usually resulted in additional fees to your monthly statement without your knowledge. Now, no over-the-limit fees may be charged unless the consumer has given permission for over-the-limit transactions.
● Required Notice for Interest Rate Changes - Card issuers must give card holders 45-day advance notice in the event of an interest rate change.
● Cardholder Opt-Out - If there are significant changes made to the terms of the account, credit card holders can choose to reject those changes and will have five years to pay off the balance under the original terms.
● Bill Due Dates - Monthly statements must now be mailed or delivered 21 days prior to the due date. Companies were moving up due dates which led to increased late fees. The new requirement should help to eliminate this practice.
● Minimum Payment Disclosure - Card issuers must now disclose in their monthly statements to customers how long it will take the card holder to pay off the bill if only the minimum monthly payment is made. Issuers must also disclose how much the card holder would need to pay every month to pay off the balance in 36 months.
● Double-Billing Cycles Eliminated - Credit card companies can no longer employ two-cycle or double billing when calculating finance charges. A creditor cannot reach back to the previous billing period and consider that cycle’s balance when calculating the amount of interest charged in the current cycle.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office encourages everyone to visit the AG website, http://www.azag.gov/consumer, for tips about making smarter decisions in the marketplace, at school and at home. You may also visit creditcards.com to view the comprehensive breakdown of the Credit CARD Act of 2009.

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(Phoenix, Ariz. – March 8, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today advised seniors to be aware of lottery and sweepstake scams that are currently on the rise in Arizona.  Taking protective measures helps to ensure seniors are not victims.

“With many scam artists taking aim at seniors, I want all Arizonans to be armed with the knowledge they need to stay safe and stop crimes before they happen,” Goddard said. “Prevention is always better than prosecution. The best defense against scams and frauds are seniors who spot the warning signs and stop those scams before they happen.”

The scam usually starts with a phone call, a letter, or an email telling seniors that they’ve won a sweepstakes, lottery, or expensive new car.  The phone callers often say they are with the IRS, FBI, U.S. Attorney, Federal Trade Commission or even international businesses.  They usually explain to the “winner” that to receive the grand prize they need to pay money to cover taxes or insurance fees.  They tell the winner to keep the news of their prize confidential and give instructions to wire the money to a foreign country to claim the multi-million-dollar check.  Once the “winner” pays $500, or $1,000 or even $5,000, there will be more phone calls with complex reasons why more money needs to be paid to get the big prize.

The Attorney General’s Office wants you to be aware of some warning signs to protect yourself against these types of scams:

●          If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
●          Be suspicious of any lottery or sweepstakes mail.   Many times these mailings say to send a small amount of money to find out if you are a winner.  Most seniors who receive the calls from these scam artists initially responded to something that came to them in the mail.
●          Read the fine print.  Many of these letters will say you need to send money in order to acquire your winnings. 
●          Never pay money.  No legitimate lottery or sweepstakes company will ask you to pay money.
●          Never share your personal information, especially not your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number.
●          Alert Authorities. If you have become a victim, don’t be afraid or ashamed to report it.  It’s your civic duty to make sure others don’t become victims of the same scams.
●          Scam Alerts.  Sign up for the Attorney General’s Scam Alerts at www.azag.gov/feed/scams. These alerts allow you to stay ahead of the rapidly changing consumer scams and schemes.

Prevention is always better than prosecution.  The Attorney General’s Office offers Senior Anti-Crime Universities throughout Arizona to help seniors learn to protect themselves against many of these types of scams.  The Senior Anti-Crime University is also part of the Attorney General’s Senior Sleuths project.  Senior Sleuths is a volunteer program to help Arizona seniors protect themselves and prevent others from becoming victims of fraud and abuse.

There are several Senior Anti-Crime Universities planned for the coming months.  A complete schedule of upcoming events is attached.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office encourages everyone to visit the AG website, http://www.azag.gov/consumer, for tips about making smarter decisions in the marketplace, at school and at home. 

C2010 SACU Schedule March - June.pdf
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(Phoenix, Ariz. - March 5, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today warned consumers to shop carefully when purchasing toys and other products for children.   According to the Department of Health Services, high levels of lead can pose a number of health risks, including behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures and even death.  Children under six years old are at higher risk for exposure to lead because of their hand-to-mouth behavior. It is important for parents to know the risks and how to protect their children.
 
Since Jan. 1 of this year, seven products intended for children have been recalled in the U.S., totaling some 703,000 units, for having high levels of lead or cadmium.  Both lead and cadmium are toxic when ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission has also issued recalls on items that present laceration, amputation, choking and/or asphyxiation hazards. For example, more than one million cribs have been recalled in recent months.

In a precedent-setting case in 2008, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office reached a multi-state settlement with Mattel, Inc. and its subsidiary Fisher-Price, Inc., to protect children from lead in its popular toys. The agreement required Mattel to implement strict new limits on the amount of lead allowed in children’s toys, to notify the state Attorneys General if it finds that lead levels in any of its products exceed state or federal law, and to work with the Attorneys General to remedy any such violations.

“Lead is a serious hazard that puts children at risk of long-term health problems and death,” Goddard said. “In an effort to further protect consumers, and particularly children, our Office continues to work directly with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure the toys we buy for our kids are safe."

Goddard offered the following tips to anyone shopping for a children’s product:
o   Check the manufacturer’s suggested age restrictions.
o   Lead may be found in both plastic and wooden toys.
o   If you think your child may have been playing with toys that have been recalled or may be contaminated with lead, talk with your child’s health provider to determine if testing is needed.  
o   If you have questions about specific toys, visit www.recalls.gov before purchasing to ensure the item has not been recalled.
o   Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Web site, www.cpsc.gov , to sign up for regular recall notice emails or by calling them at 1-800-638-2772.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office encourages residents to visit its website, http://www.azag.gov/consumer , for additional information.

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(Phoenix, Ariz. - March 4, 2010) Attorney General Terry Goddard today announced the start of Arizona Consumer Protection Week, a campaign intended to help people become more savvy consumers, which will run March 7-13. This effort also encourages Arizonans to take full advantage of their consumer rights.

“The message of Consumer Protection Week is that it is never too early or too late to become a more informed and empowered consumer,” Goddard said. “Regardless of your age or financial situation, useful lessons can be learned about spending and managing money wisely.”

This year’s theme -- Dollars & Sense: Rated “A” for All Ages -- highlights the importance of using good consumer sense at every stage of life, from grade school to retirement.  In recognition of the week, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office is promoting free resources to help Arizonans protect their privacy, manage money and debt, avoid identity theft, understand credit and mortgages, and steer clear of frauds and scams.  

The Attorney General’s Office has aggressively pursued those who prey upon the public and threaten the economic well-being of Arizona residents. In the last year alone, the Office processed some 11,400 consumer complaints and has filed dozens of civil and criminal cases.

The Office has prosecuted operators of fraudulent foreclosure rescue businesses who have victimized hundreds of Arizona homeowners. Through criminal prosecutions and consumer fraud lawsuits, the Office stopped rip-off artists who charged consumers large upfront fees and claimed they could modify their mortgage terms and prevent foreclosure, yet provided no such assistance.

Additionally, the Attorney General’s office has filed several major lawsuits and settlements to stop deceptive marketing or advertising. These included a multi-state settlement with Countrywide Financial Corporation with a potential value of nearly $8 billion, relating to the company’s use of deceptive mortgage lending practices, and multi-million-dollar settlements with some of the world’s biggest drug companies.  Another significant case was the $175,000 Nutraceuticals settlement in which the defendants used the Internet to advertise “14-day risk free” trial offers of various “nutritional supplements”.  The company failed to adequately disclose to consumers material terms and conditions that rendered the trial offers far from “risk free” and resulted in significant, unauthorized charges to consumers.

The Office also reached a $1 million price accuracy settlement with Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer. Walmart agreed to establish a rigorous price inspection and monitoring system to ensure that its customers have access to accurate and clearly posted prices.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office encourages everyone to visit the AG website and the special section set up specifically for Consumer Protection Week.  Please visit http://www.azag.gov/consumer for tips about making smarter decisions in the marketplace, at school and at home.

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A.        The Federal Trade Commission established the National Do Not Call Registry which requires most telemarketers to stop calling.  Exceptions to the Registry are political organizations, charities, polls and surveys; companies with whom you have an existing business relationship; calls from companies you’ve given permission to call; and business to business calls.

      To register your number on the Do Not Call Registry:

• Visit “DoNotCall.gov” and enter your phone number and email address.  Click “Submit.”  Confirm your information and click “Register.”  Open your email message from Register@donotcall.gov.  Click on the link to complete your registration or call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register.

Q.  What warning signs should consumers look for when dealing with a telemarketer?

A.        Consumers should watch out for telemarketers who:

• Pressure you to act immediately
• Refuse to send you written information
• Use scare tactics
• Demand that you send payment by wire or courier
• Demand that you pay taxes, custom fees or mailing fees to claim a prize
• Request your financial account numbers
• Promise to recover money you have lost in another scam, for a fee
• Claim that you can earn money by working from home
• Refuse to stop calling when you say you are not interested

Q.        What additional tips can you offer to Arizona consumers to follow?

A.        Goddard offers the following additional tips so that you can protect  yourself:

• Arizona’s Telephone Solicitations Statute requires telemarketers to make certain disclosures before they can solicit customers.  Check with the Arizona Secretary of State (602.542.4366/www.azsos.gov) to determine whether the telemarketing company has registered with the State.  Also check with the State Treasurer’s Office (602.542.7176) to determine whether the company has filed a bond.  The law also requires all telemarketing companies to tell their customers, both orally and in writing, that they have the right to cancel their order within three days after receiving merchandise purchased from the telemarketer.
• Don’t share your credit card and bank account numbers over the phone.  Telephone scammers often ask for them during an unsolicited sales pitch and then use them to commit other frauds against you.
• Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity before you open your wallet. 
• If you decide to purchase or make a contribution after receiving written information, pay by credit card, instead of by cash, check, money order or debit card, as you can dispute the charges if you do not get what you were promised.  Dispute credit card charges if you do not get what you were promised.

Terry Goddard
Attorney General

Scam artists often try to capitalize on severe storms by taking advantage of homeowners coping with damage. Some unsolicited contractors will claim to have extra materials because they are doing work in the neighborhood. The pitch to the homeowner includes a “discounted” price for materials so the contractor won’t have to throw materials away.

The homeowner is typically given a verbal quote, but never a written estimate for the job. The unsolicited contractor will do the work, and in some cases without the homeowner’s consent, will do additional work.  After the job is complete, the homeowner may be presented with a bill that is hundreds or even thousands of dollars more than what was originally quoted. The person will often demand immediate payment and in some cases refuse to leave in an attempt to pressure the homeowner into paying in full.

Goddard cautions Arizona residents to think twice before allowing anyone who shows up after a severe storm to work on your home. Instead, he offers the following tips when choosing a contractor:

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at 602.542.5763; in Tucson at 520.628.6504; or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at 1.800.352.8431.  To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General’s Office has satellite offices throughout the state with volunteers available to help.  Locations and hours of operation are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site.  Consumers can also file complaints on line by visiting the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov

For additional information, please contact Molly Edwards at (602) 542-8019.

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-- Be skeptical of anyone asking for a donation by requesting your credit card number or bank account information over the phone unless you already donate to that charity.
Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations.  

-- Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for the intended purpose.

-- Don’t be shy about asking what percentage of your donation will go directly to the charity versus administrative costs.

-- Call the Secretary of State's Office at (602) 542-4285 or visit their Web site, , to make sure the charity is registered with the Secretary of State.  A charity that operates without such registration is violating the law and should be seen as a red flag for consumers. Be aware, however, that registration with the Secretary of State does not guarantee that all of the charity’s activities are legitimate.  Several Web sites, including  www.charitynavigator.org, and , provide information on the financial backgrounds of charities. These can be useful for consumers looking to research organizations they are considering for a donation.  

-- Do not pay bills or invoices you have received from charities unless you know you have already made a commitment to support them.

-- Remember to ask for a receipt and a statement that the contribution is tax deductible.

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Terry Goddard

(Phoenix, Ariz. – Dec. 22, 2009) Attorney General Terry Goddard urges sports fans to take common sense precautions to avoid scams when purchasing tickets to the major football games in the days ahead.

“With the Cardinals clinching the NFC West Division championship and heading to the playoffs for the second year in a row, as well as the U of A heading to the Holiday bowl and Glendale hosting a great Fiesta Bowl matchup, Arizonans have several games to get excited about,” Goddard said. “By protecting your personal information and making sure the companies you are buying from are legitimate, you can protect yourself from ticketing and travel scams that arise around these big games.”

Many of the most common scams are designed to obtain personal financial information, such as bank account or Social Security numbers. Goddard recommends the following steps when buying event tickets:

• Purchase tickets directly from the team or the venue where the event is going to be held. If you go through a ticket broker, do a little homework. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if complaints have been filed against the company and look for the BBB online seal.

• When buying through an online auction site, do not let the individual seller lure you away from the original Web site. Any guarantee offered by the ticket broker online may be lost if you purchase tickets outside its Web site.

• Before buying tickets, check the event’s Web site to make certain the seats and the section exist. If a phone number is listed on the Web site, call the number to see if it is correct and working.

• Never pay with a cashier’s check or wire money to the seller; you’ll have no way to get your money back if the tickets never arrive. Pay with a credit card, which is safer than a debit card, or through a neutral third-party escrow service such as PayPal, which offers some amount of protection and potential reimbursement.

Goddard also warns consumers to be careful when making travel plans to attend games: 

• When booking over the Internet, be cautious about making reservations with unknown people or businesses that require advance payment or deposits without a written contract. Legitimate businesses will provide a written confirmation of your reservation.

• Don’t make any transactions that can be completed only by phone. Legitimate reservation companies will offer the option to book by phone or via the Internet. Get their address and ask about a written contract and refund policy. Do an Internet search of the address to see if a map shows the location.

• Be cautious of travel offers that appear “too good to be true.” Dramatically reduced fares are often not legitimate and may require additional payments the buyer is unaware of when making the reservation. Read the fine print before purchasing.

• Beware of travel reservation Web sites that are unfamiliar to you. Scam Web sites will offer reduced fares on travel and hotel accommodations, only to steal your credit card information. Research a site before making a purchase and stick to trusted sites when booking online.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at 602.542.5763, in Tucson at 520.628.6504 or outside the metro areas at 1.800.352.8431. To file a complaint in person, the Attorney General’s Office has satellite offices throughout Arizona with volunteers available to assist you.
Locations and hours are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov.

For more information, contact Steve Wilson at (602) 542-8351.

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(Phoenix, Ariz. -- Dec. 15, 2009) Attorney General Terry Goddard today urged all Arizonans, especially those with children in their homes, to take note of a national recall of all Roman shades and roll-up blinds announced earlier today.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in conjunction with the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC), said today that all Roman shades and roll-up blinds are being voluntarily recalled due to the risk of strangulation to young children. Millions of these window coverings are sold in the United States each year. The CPSC has received reports of eight deaths and 16 near-strangulations in connection with these products in recent years.

According to federal regulators, anyone with Roman shades or roll-up blinds in their home should contact the WCSC immediately at www.windowcoverings.org or (800) 506-4636 to receive a free repair kit.

Federal regulators also gave the following guidelines for those with children in their homes:

-   Examine all shades and blinds in the home. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product. CPSC and the WCSC recommend the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.
-   Do not place cribs, beds, and furniture close to the windows because children can climb on them and gain access to the cords.
-   Make loose cords inaccessible.
-   If the window shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords, install tension devices to keep the cord taut.

Additional information on this recall is available from the CPSC on their Web site, www.cpsc.gov, or by calling (800) 638-2772.

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(Phoenix, Ariz. - Dec. 10, 2009) Attorney General Terry Goddard today warned consumers of the dangers of Amby Baby Motion Beds, which were involved in the suffocation deaths of two infants in recent months.

The design of the bed can lead to possible titling or shifting which can cause the infant to roll and subsequently become trapped or wedged against the fabric and/or mattress pad, resulting in a risk of suffocation.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of the beds earlier this week. Consumers are advised to stop using the Amby Baby Motion Beds immediately.  Parents and caregivers are urged to find a suitable and safe replacement.

The Amby Baby Motion Bed is made up of a steel frame and a fabric hammock which are connected by a large spring and a metal crossbar.  Only one model of the hammock is available and can be identified by the label "Amby -- Babies Love It, Naturally” sewn onto the hammock.  These beds were sold online at Ambybaby.com and other Internet retailers from January 2003 through October 2009 and retailed for about $250.  Approximately 24,000 of these beds were sold in the United States.

To receive a free repair kit or for additional information, contact Amby Baby USA toll-free at (866) 544-9721 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday or visit their Web site at www.ambybaby.com .

The CPSC would like to receive incident or injury reports related to this product recall or involving a different hazard with the same product. Reports can filed by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx .

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