Terry Goddard Warns of Phone Solicitation Scam

(Phoenix, Ariz. – May 17, 2007) Attorney General Terry Goddard today warned consumers about a phone solicitation scam where the caller pretends to be an attorney from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

The Attorney General’s Office has received information through the Kingman Satellite Office that seniors are receiving calls from someone claiming to be from the Attorney General’s Office. The caller tells consumers that they are the recipients of money owed to them as the result of a recent lawsuit by the State of Arizona. The caller claims that a scam artist who swindled money from Arizona seniors was successfully prosecuted, and they are owed $395 as a result. The caller then asks for a bank account number so the money may be deposited into their account by the Court of Arizona.

This is a scam. The Attorney General’s Office has a set of procedures in place to work with crime victims and does not collect personal identifying information. If you receive a call like this, do not give out any personal financial information over the telephone. 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 31 satellite offices throughout Arizona with volunteers available to help. Locations and hours are posted on the Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov.