SCAM ALERT: Cosmetology Board Imposter Scam

PHOENIX - Attorney General Mark Brnovich is warning nail salons of a scam involving the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology. A man falsely claiming to be a board member is trying to scam salon owners out of thousands of dollars.

The scam artist calls salons from a spoofed number that shows up on a Caller ID as “Board of Cosmetology.” The caller falsely claims the salon owner must attend a State Board of Cosmetology class. In order to register for the class, the salon owner is falsely told they must pay anywhere from $500 to $1,500. The salon owner is then asked to deposit money onto a prepaid Green Dot MoneyPak card and text a picture of the account numbers on the prepaid card. Salon owners in the Tucson and Phoenix areas have fallen victim to the scam.

Please be aware that a Cosmetology Board Member will never contact a licensee or applicant. If you have any questions about a fee or fine either go to the board office in person or contact the Board of Cosmetology Compliance Office, at (480) 889-2954 or (480) 784-4961.

Any salon owner receiving one of these calls is encouraged to call the Arizona State Board of Cosmetology before providing any payment information.

For more consumer protection tips visit the Arizona Attorney General’s Office website at www.azag.gov. If you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the metro areas at (800) 352-8431. Bilingual consumer protection staff is available to assist. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Attorney General’s website at https://www.azag.gov/complaints/consumer.