Arizona recovered millions of dollars from scams last year, but state officials warn that the threat is becoming more sophisticated.
Attorney General Kris Mayes announces that her office recovered more than $4 million in 2025 for residents harmed by scams, fraud and deceptive business practices.
“My office fights every day to protect Arizonans from fraud and deceptive practices, and recovering more than $4 million for consumers last year is just part of the work we are doing to help Arizonans. But the threat is evolving and scammers are now using artificial intelligence to clone voices, create fake videos, and craft messages that are nearly impossible to distinguish from the real thing. It is critical that Arizonans educate themselves and remain vigilant against scams.”
The Attorney General’s Consumer Information and Complaints Unit says it received nearly 21,000 complaints in 2025, handled 28,723 phone calls and reviewed more than 26,000 emails. The recovered funds came through direct intervention between consumers and businesses to resolve disputes.
Mayes says victims should not hesitate to seek help.
“But there is nothing to be ashamed of if you have been scammed, it can happen to anybody. I encourage anyone who believes they’ve been victimized to contact our office. We’re here to help.”
The office also warns that AI tools are allowing scammers to replicate voices with seconds of audio, generate realistic deepfake videos and craft phishing messages that lack the spelling and grammar errors that once signaled fraud.
Officials urge residents to verify urgent requests by calling trusted numbers directly, avoid sending money under pressure, establish private family code words for emergencies and independently confirm any suspicious message that appears to come from a bank, employer or government agency.
State officials add that slowing down and verifying information remains the strongest defense as AI makes old scams harder to detect.
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