Arizona Consumer Fraud & Protection Information
The Consumer Protection Section of the Arizona Attorney General's office is directly responsible for enforcing state laws that protect consumers from fraud. The Consumer Protection Section, together with the Environmental Protection Section make up the Public Advocacy Division, which helps protect the public from any threat. According to the Arizona attorney general, attorneys from the Public Advocacy Division lend legal advice to the state insurance, banking and real estate departments.
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Definition
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To claim consumer fraud against a particular entity, the alleged fraud must meet the legal definition in Arizona. The office of the Arizona Attorney General specifies consumer fraud "is any deception, false statement, false pretense, false promise or misrepresentation made by a seller or advertiser of merchandise." The legal definition goes on to specify that "concealment, suppression or failure to disclose a material fact may be consumer fraud if it is done with the intent that others rely on such concealment, suppression or non-disclosure."
Jurisdiction
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The jurisdiction to prosecute acts of consumer fraud comes from the state's Consumer Fraud Act. In addition, the act allows the attorney general to delegate enforcement to county attorneys. According to the attorney general's office, private citizens may elect to bring a claim against an entity for violating the Consumer Fraud Act. However, the claim must be made within a year of the occurrence of the alleged violation.
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Business
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Consumer fraud and protection is a key responsibility of the Public Advocacy Division of the Attorney General's office. The Consumer Protection Section of the Public Advocacy Division is empowered to enforce consumer protections and laws as well as consumer education. Consumer Protection also protects against business monopolies, price fixing, bid rigging, and monitors gasoline prices.
Environment
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The Environmental Enforcement Section of the Public Advocacy Division is empowered to prosecute violations of state environmental laws. This section provides legal guidance and representation for other state agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Agriculture, and the Game and Fish Department. Legal representation protects public interests in several areas including environmental law enforcement, water quality and waste management.
Education
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The Crime, Fraud & Victim Resource Center is a statewide consumer education initiative of the Attorney General's Office. The purpose of the Crime, Fraud & Victim Resource Center is to educate consumers about crime and fraud, and to help prevent crime. The program works through a series of presentations that cover consumer scams, identity theft, internet safety, civil rights, discrimination and predatory lending practices among others. In addition, the program is run by volunteers and with donations, and therefore at no expense to the state.
Complaints
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If you believe consumer fraud has occurred, you may first assert your claim by writing to the company to request corrective action. You may also submit a complaint against that company with the Attorney General's Office through their online complaint submission form (See Resources).
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References
Resources
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