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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

HORNE ANNOUNCES FAVORABLE RULING IN BANK OF AMERICA LITIGATION

PHOENIX (Tuesday March 22, 2011) -- Attorney General Tom Horne announced that the U.S. Federal District Court Judge Frederick J. Martone, ruled on the first significant motion in the Bank of America case. Judge Martone granted the State of Arizona’s motion to return the case to state court. In January, Bank of America had removed the case to federal court on a variety of grounds, all of which were rejected by Judge Martone.

Horne stated: “I am gratified that the court agreed with our argument that our claims that Bank of America violated state law should be heard in state court. State court often can proceed much more quickly than federal court. Homeowners who have suffered from practices that may violate the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act need timely relief, and unnecessary delays can be damaging to them."

The case will now be returned to Arizona Superior Court in Maricopa Country, where discovery will begin.

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Monday, March 21, 2011

ETHNIC STUDIES SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION AS AG TOM HORNE TO ADDRESS UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA LATINO LAW STUDENTS

TUCSON (Monday, March 21, 2011) -- AG Tom Horne will address the University of Arizona Latino Law students to discuss HB 2281, Ethnic Studies Law, on Tuesday, March 22 at 5:45 p.m. at the University of Arizona College of Law, Ares Auditorium, Room 164. Horne will be on a panel.

Horne was invited by the Latino Law school group to discuss HB 2281, and welcomed the opportunity to discuss the issue with the law students and other panel members.

Horne stated: “TUSD’s Ethnic Studies program divides students by race and promotes ethnic chauvinism, rather than teaching students to treat each other as individuals. I am committed to educating the public on what is really happening in these classes.”

WHO: AG TOM HORNE TO ADDRESS UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA LATINO LAW STUDENTS

WHERE: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW
1201 EAST SPPEDWAY
TUCSON, AZ 85719

DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2011

TIME: 5:45 P.M.

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Thursday, March 17, 2011

RAZA STUDIES SUPPORTERS, IN A THUGGISH MOB, TRIED TO SHOUT DOWN ATTORNEY GENERAL HORNE

PHOENIX (Thursday March 17, 2011) -- Attorney General Tom Horne today released a video of a screaming mob of Raza Studies supporters who interfered with the Attorney General’s efforts to accommodate a request to be interviewed by a television news crew.

In the video below, viewers can see a thuggish mob of Raza Studies supporters trying to shout down Horne, to attempt to prevent an interview with Univision Television.

Horne was in the process of leaving the Capitol after a meeting, when a reporter from Univision Televsion asked him to return to where his cameraman was, so he could do an interview in Spanish, as frequently does for Spanish-language media. A thuggish mob of Raza Studies reporters surrounded them and tried to prevent the interview, screaming at the top of their lungs. When the interview was over, Horne walked to his car, still surrounded by the mob, screaming vulgar epithets.

Horne said, “The Raza Studies program teaches irrational mob behavior as a matter of habit. For example, they did a street play called 'the killing of Tom Horne' which was filmed by channels 4 and 9 in Tucson, and broadcast.”

For a YouTube video (not produced by this office) of Attorney General’s Horne encounter this week go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu3UW_Cw1-8.



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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

ATTORNEY GENERAL HORNE ADDRESSES FAIR HOUSING TRAINING EVENT

PHOENIX (March 16, 2011) - Attorney General Tom Horne will address the topic of housing discrimination at the "Cost of Un-Fair Housing" seminar on Tuesday, April 12 from 8 am to 12 pm.

The seminar, the Arizona Fair Housing Partnership's Annual event, held at the Disability Empowerment Center, 5025 E Washington, Phoenix will feature speakers such as HUD's Phoenix Field Office Director. There will be a panel discussion by experienced fair housing professionals from the Attorney General's office and the private sector about how to recognize housing discrimination what can be done about it. Groups who wish to learn more about fair housing or who have clients that might be affected by discriminatory practices are encouraged to attend.

“As Arizona’s chief law enforcement official, my office is empowered to enforce fair housing laws,” said Horne. “We recognize how deeply housing discrimination affects individuals and the community and work to eliminate it.”

To register, please visit regonline.com/fh2011 or call Shawna at 602-252-3423.

The Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division is always available to provide training to businesses and professional associations that are working to comply with the law. Information on events and training provided by the Division throughout the year can be found on the Attorney General’s Office website, www.azag.gov.

If you would like more information or feel you have been a victim of housing discrimination, please call the Attorney General’s Office at 602-542-5263 or email at civilrightsinfo@azag.gov.

For more information, contact Arizona Attorney General's Office Director of Community Education and Outreach Kathleen Winn 602-542-6903.

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Monday, March 14, 2011

HORNE ISSUES WARNING ABOUT RELIEF SCAMS FOLLOWING JAPANESE DISASTER

PHOENIX (Monday March 14, 2011) -- With disaster relief efforts underway to help the people of Japan, Attorney General Tom Horne says consumers should be cautious and only make contributions to reputable, established charitable organizations.

“While tragedies such as the disaster in Japan bring out the best in most people, they bring out the worst in others and the result is that scam artists will prey on consumers who want to help by making a financial contribution,” Horne said. “I’m urging Arizonans to give generously to relief efforts, but to make sure their contributions are used for their intended purpose.”

Here are some tips for giving to charitable organizations:
  • 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.
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. More tips specific to the Japan disaster are also available at: http://ftc.gov/opa/2011/03/earthquake.shtm.

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Friday, March 11, 2011

ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM HORNE ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH PRINCIPAL REDUCTION GROUP, LLC

PHOENIX (Friday March 11, 2011) -- Attorney General Tom Horne today announced a settlement agreement with Scottsdale based Principal Reduction Group, LLC, and Brian Cutright, owner and operations manager of Principal Reduction Group, LLC.

Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Principal Reduction Group and Brian Cutright agree to no longer engage in any activity, directly or on behalf of any third party, that involves originating, closing, or modifying any term of a consumer’s mortgage loan, or obtaining a reduction on a consumer’s debt, of any kind, while in the State of Arizona or on behalf of any Arizona consumer.

Horne stated. “Consumer fraud targeting homeowners who are facing difficulties paying their mortgages is a problem that must be dealt with and I am committed to finding and prosecuting those people who use predatory schemes.”

Additionally, the settlement agreement provides for full restitution to the consumers who filed complaints with this office; on average, those consumers paid $5,500 each for principal reduction services from the Defendants.

Finally, the settlement agreement requires the Defendants to pay $25,000 as civil penalties and $5,000 for attorneys costs and fees. The Attorney General shall deposit the funds into the consumer protection-consumer fraud revolving fund.

This settlement agreement is pursuant to a consent judgment currently awaiting court approval.

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. 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, www.azag.gov. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintform.html."

This case was handled be AAG Cherie Howe.

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HORNE ANNOUNCES MEDICAL DOCTOR SURRENDERS LICENSE, PAYS $700,000 RESTITUTION FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG / MONEY LAUNDERING SCAM

PHOENIX (Friday March 11, 2011) -- Attorney General Tom Horne today announced that Albert Yeh, a medical doctor who practiced in Golden Valley, Arizona has surrendered his medical license in both Arizona and Nevada and will pay nearly $700,000 in restitution for his orchestration of a prescription drug and money laundering scheme.

Albert Yeh
“Albert Yeh can no longer practice medicine and victimize Arizonans,” Horne said.  “For three years, Yeh systematically victimized not only his patients, but the taxpayers of Arizona by writing massive amounts of prescriptions for narcotics without properly ensuring the patients actually needed those drugs; seeing far too many patients than is safe, and grossly and fraudulently inflating his bills for the admitted purpose of his making as much money as possible.  This medical predator is now, fortunately, out of business.”

On January 13, 2011, Albert Yeh pled guilty to three high level felonies: fraudulent schemes and artifices, a class 2 felony; illegal control of an enterprise, a class 3 felony; and money laundering, a class 3 felony. The plea requires Yeh, a medical doctor, to permanently surrender his Arizona medical license. Also, as a result of this prosecution, Yeh has permanently surrendered his Nevada medical license. Yeh does not hold any other medical licenses in the United States. On March 11, 2011, Yeh was sentenced by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Susan Brnovich to 2.5 years in prison, followed by 5 years probation. Yeh is also required to pay $683,038.00 in restitution to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS). In a related forfeiture matter, Yeh agreed to forfeit property seized in the amount of approximately $2 million in seized monies.

From January 1, 2006, to February 10, 2009, Yeh operated a pain management clinic one day a week in Golden Valley, Arizona, where he systematically victimized the State of Arizona through massive amounts of fraudulent billing. Yeh operated this medical practice for the admitted purpose of making as much money as possible. To do this, Yeh concocted a scheme to severely shorten patient visits, increase his patient load to dangerous levels, and then grossly inflate his bills. Yeh employed an unlicensed physician assistant who he instructed to see about half of the patient load, allowing Yeh’s practice to see twice as many patients. During most of those patient visits, prescriptions for narcotic drugs already signed by Yeh were provided to patients. Also, to shorten the length of patient visits, Yeh and his staff typically failed to take vital signs or perform medical exams, instead relying on computer commands created by Yeh that automatically entered false information on patients’ charts. This, of course, means that Yeh and his staff did not know whether patients were having adverse reactions to medications or experiencing other medical problems that should be factored into determining how to treat the patient. Then, Yeh submitted bills to AHCCCS, claiming that he had conducted all the patient visits, even those conducted by the unlicensed physician assistant. Also, Yeh inflated the charges on his bills by claiming he provided a higher level of medical service than what actually occurred, resulting in a higher than allowed payment from AHCCCS.

"DEA will stand firm on its commitment to investigate and prosecute any medical practitioner who violates the laws of the United States when prescribing controlled substances other than for legitimate medical needs," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Doug Coleman. "Today's sentencing sends a strong message that we will not tolerate rogue doctors who use their positions of trust to prey on those who are vulnerable to the abuse of prescription drugs."

Yeh’s records indicate that, with this scheme in place, his practice saw about 150 patients each day. To make sure these patients returned to Yeh’s practice so that he could continue to maximize his unlawful billing, Yeh did not take steps typically taken by pain management doctors to determine whether patients were taking too many drugs or drugs other than those he was prescribing. In fact, Yeh’s staff referred to follow-up visits as “refill” visits, as the focus clearly was on handing out the pre-signed prescriptions and moving on to the next patient.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Task Force, which includes the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Phoenix Police Department, Apache Junction PD, Peoria PD, Surprise PD, Mesa PD, Kingman PD, Mohave Area General Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET), Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Fraud Unit, Nevada DPS, Arizona Pharmacy Board, the DEA Las Vegas and the DEA Digital Evidence Laboratory.

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM HORNE REMINDS CONSUMERS TO BE AWARE OF DECEPTIVE MAILERS

PHOENIX (Friday March 11, 2011) -- Attorney General Tom Horne is warning Arizona consumers to be wary of advertisements and solicitations appearing in mailboxes or at homeowners’ front doors. Many solicitations appear to be an official notification, although the sender has no affiliation with any government agency. These mailers offer to provide services that are required by a governmental entity or services that will save the consumer money. Most often, those offers simply are “too good to be true” and should be avoided.

In November 2010, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office obtained a $628,066 consumer fraud judgment against Vahe Zakaryan and his business, Board of Business Compliance. Operating from California, Mr. Zakaryan sent deceptive official-looking solicitations to Arizona business owners requesting an annual fee of $125. The mailing misled business owners into believing the fee and form were required by the Arizona Corporation Commission. In a similar case, the Attorney General has also brought suit against a Nevada corporation, Arizona Corporate Headquarters, and its principal, former NFL player Gaston Green, (now known as Gaston Muhammad), for mailing more than 137,000 fraudulent “corporate minutes” solicitations to Arizona businesses.

In August 2009, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against Property Tax Review Board, a company that sent solicitations to homeowners requesting a fee of $189 to lower their property tax bill. Property Tax Review Board was unable to assist with property tax reductions as the business was not registered with the Board of Appraisals. Also, the time period to appeal property tax assessments for 2009 and 2010 had lapsed. The Attorney General’s Office obtained a judgment against Property Tax Review Board, enjoining them from conducting this type of fraud in the future and assessing a civil penalty against them in the amount of $7.1 million dollars. Property owners who want to appeal the valuation of their real property can do so, at no cost, by contacting their county assessors’ office.

These lawsuits are simple reminders to consumers to be wary of the advertisements and solicitations they receive in the mail or posted to their front doors. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office advises consumers to read all fine print, do research on companies that are listed on mailers and be cautious about the authenticity of mailings that appear to be from a government agency.

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 area at 1-800-352-8431. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Attorney General’s Office Web site 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.

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

HORNE ANNOUNCES $2.1 MILLION PHARMACEUTICAL PAYOUT; LARGEST TO DATE

ARIZONA AND 37 ATTORNEYS GENERAL REACH A LANDMARK $68.5 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH ASTRAZENECA PHARMACUETICALS
PHOENIX (Thursday, March 10, 2011) -- Attorney General Tom Horne today announced Arizona has received the largest-ever pharmaceutical payout in Arizona history - nearly $2.1 million - as part of the largest-ever multi-state consumer protection-based pharmaceutical settlement.

Horne stated: “This settlement sends a powerful message to drug companies that deceptive practices will not be tolerated. The health and safety of consumers is vitally important, especially where medications are necessary for the well-being of the patient.”

Arizona, along with 37 other Attorneys General, reached a record $68.5 million dollar settlement with AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP arising from alleged deceptive marketing of the antipsychotic drug, Seroquel. The payment to Arizona is $2,093,327.

The complaint, filed today along with a Consent Judgment, alleges that AstraZeneca engaged in false and deceptive practices when it marketed Seroquel for unapproved or off-label uses; failed to adequately disclose the drug’s potential side effects to health care providers; and withheld negative information contained in scientific studies concerning the safety and effectiveness of Seroquel.

In addition to the $68.5 million payment, the terms of the Consent Judgment include injunctive provisions that the states identified in their investigation. The Consent Judgment requires that AstraZeneca not promote Seroquel in a false, misleading or deceptive manner, including for “off-label” uses (uses that are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration). The Consent Judgment also requires AstraZeneca to do the following:

  • Publicly post its payments to physicians on a website; 
  • Ensure that it does not give financial incentives to marketing and sales personnel for off-label marketing;
  • Ensure that its sales personnel do not promote Seroquel to health care providers who are unlikely to prescribe Seroquel for an FDA-approved use; and
  • Atypical anti-psychotics, including Seroquel, can produce dangerous side effects, including weight gain, hyperglycemia, diabetes, cardiovascular complications, an increased risk of mortality in elderly patients with dementia and other severe conditions.

Although a physician is allowed to prescribe drugs for off-label uses, the law prohibits pharmaceutical manufacturers from marketing their products for off-label uses. As alleged, AstraZeneca unlawfully marketed Seroquel for a number of off-label uses, including for use in pediatric and geriatric populations, specifically in nursing homes for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. The States also alleged that AstraZeneca marketed Seroquel for anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and post traumatic stress disorders even though the FDA had not approved Seroquel as a treatment for these conditions at the time AstraZeneca marketed Seroquel.

In addition to Arizona, the Attorneys General of the following states and the District of Columbia participated in the settlement: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

This matter was handled by AAG Noreen R. Matts.

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Wednesday, March 9, 2011

ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM HORNE ANNOUNCES COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTION AGAINST SMOKE FREELY, LLC

PHOENIX (Wednesday March 9, 2011) -- Attorney General Tom Horne today filed a complaint in Pima County Superior Court for injunctive relief, restitution and civil penalties against Smoke Freely, LLC, an Arizona limited liability corporation. Smoke Freely offers Prado Electronic Cigarettes (“Prado E-Cig”) for sale. An Electronic Cigarette or “E-Cig” is a battery-powered device that can provide inhaled doses of nicotine by delivering a vaporized solution. Professional Marketing Associates, Inc. (“PMA”), a Massachusetts corporation, provides fulfillment services for Smoke Freely and responded to consumer complaints forwarded to Smoke Freely by our office.

While Smoke Freely states its merchandise is not a smoking cessation device, PMA represents that the Prado E-Cig “is an electronic cigarette used as a smoking cessation device.” The Prado E-Cig has not been approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation device.

Defendants also make misrepresentations about their “Risk Free Trial.” Defendants represent to consumers that consumers can pay shipping & handling and try a Prado E-Cig for free. Defendants also represent that consumers can return the Prado E-Cig within the trial period and not be charged anything more than the shipping & handling charge. In reality, some consumers do not receive the Prado E-Cig before the trial period expires, other consumers are charged additional fees before the trial period expires and still other consumers’ returns were considered “invalid” and those consumers were automatically enrolled to receive additional products and were charged for those products.

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. 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, www.azag.gov. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintform.html."

This case was handled by AAG Taren Ellis.

pdf SmokeFreely.pdf
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM HORNE ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH QUIK CASH FINANCIAL SERVICES

PHOENIX (Tuesday March 8, 2011) -- Attorney General Tom Horne announced today a consent judgment against Quik Cash Financial Services to pay up to $170,000 in restitution to “eligible consumers” that were victims of consumer fraud. Quik Cash was a pay day lender which operated in most Arizona counties.

“Eligible Consumers” are those non-residents of Pima County who obtained pay day loans from Quik Cash outside of Pima County and against whom Defendants obtained a default judgment in the Pima County Justice Court and received funds from its collection efforts, including garnishments, which funds were applied to such default judgments.

The Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Quik Cash in December 2009, alleging that the company, in order to obtain as many defaults as possible against consumers who lived outside of Pima and Maricopa counties, filed for default judgments and, in many cases obtained garnishment orders, in Pima County against non-county residents. Quik Cash’s actions allegedly deprived consumers of their right to appear in court or to contest judgments and garnishments and in some cases, allowed Quik Cash to collect on debts consumers had already paid.

The consent judgment requires Quik Cash to comply with the Consumer Fraud Act. In addition, Quik Cash must do the following:

1. If Quik Cash has not already filed releases of the default judgments and garnishments it obtained against Eligible Consumers, Quik Cash shall file releases within ten days of the Effective Date (Tuesday, March 8, 2011).
2. Quik Cash will pay up to $170,000 in restitution to Eligible Consumers within thirty days of the Effective Date. Quik Cash must send a letter explaining that Quik Cash and the Attorney General’s Office have entered into a settlement and that Quik Cash has released the Eligible Consumer’s default judgment and garnishment.
3. Quik Cash will enclose a restitution check with the letter. The envelope containing both must contain the words “Quik Cash Refund” so that consumers do not throw the checks away.
4. Quik Cash must provide a report to the Office within thirty days of mailing the refund checks to include a sample refund letter; the names and addresses of the Eligible Consumers; and the amount of the restitution check Quik Cash sent to each consumer.
5. If restitution checks are returned to Quik Cash as undeliverable, Quik Cash shall use all reasonable efforts to locate the Eligible Consumers. If, after ninety days from receiving the returned checks, Quik Cash has not been able to locate the Eligible Consumers, Quik Cash shall pay the total amount of the undeliverable checks to our Office to be deposited into the Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund as fees and costs.
6. If Eligible Consumers do not cash restitution checks within 120 days of the date of the restitution checks, Quik Cash must pay the total amount of cancelled checks to the Attorney General’s Office to be deposited into the Consumer Fraud Revolving Fund as fees and costs.
7. Quik Cash is required to pay $67,500 to the Attorney General’s office for attorney’s fees and costs.

Horne concluded: “Payday lending is now illegal in Arizona. If consumers are aware of continued payday lending activity or believe they are a victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Arizona Attorney General’s office at (602) 542-5763.”

This case was handled by AAG Noreen Matts.

pdf QuikCash_3-8-11.pdf
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Monday, March 7, 2011

Tom Horne Announces Start of Consumer Protection Week

PHOENIX (Monday, March 7, 2011) - Attorney General Tom Horne announces the start of Arizona Consumer Protection Week, a week dedicated to helping Arizonans become informed consumers. Every day this week, AG Horne will highlight an issue to protect the consumer.

Horne is also announcing the Attorney General Taskforce Against Senior Abuse (TASA). TASA will provide statewide civil and criminal prosecution of elder abuse, neglect and exploitation and scams that target seniors. TASA has a dedicated phone line (602) 542-2124 or email SeniorAbuse@azag.gov.

To launch the week, the Public Advocacy Division of the Attorney General's office has provided a list of General Consumer Tips:
  1. Know who you’re dealing with.
    1. Research the company or individual before you do business with them. Too often, consumers research a company only after they’ve been scammed. The Better Business Bureau is a good place to seek information relating to a company and its reputation within the community.
    2. Consider recommendations from friends, but also beware of affinity marketing (when scammers target victims through a shared religious affiliation, nationality or language).
    3. Check to see if the company or individual is licensed with the appropriate agency.
      For example:
    1. Mortgage or real estate professionals - Arizona Dept of Financial Institutions, Arizona Department of Real Estate
    2. Home repair - Registrar of Contractors
    3. Charities - Registered with the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
  2. Read before you sign.
    1. Be aware of ‘Bait and switch’ tactics - don’t fall for “the contract says the same thing as what I just told you.” Always read the fine print terms and verbiage before signing any document.
    2. Don’t let anybody fill in terms for you, or pressure you to sign a contract immediately. If you have a question about terms or language used in a contract or agreement, do not hesitate to ask for a thorough explanation.

  3. Hang up the phone.
    1. Sign up for the Do Not Call List. You may list your home phone or cell phone on the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call List. http://donotcall.gov or 1-888-382-1222.
    2. If you are receiving an unwanted or harassing phone call, it is OK to hang up.

  4. Be cautious about opportunities involving sending money as a means to receive money.
    1. Do not be persuaded to wire money to a company if they tell you that you have won a lottery prize. You probably have not won anything, especially if you did not enter a contest.
    2. Be aware of business opportunity scams that involve spending a large sum of money for simple business plans and ideas (Web sites, travel sales, etc.). Before you invest in any business, do your research and fully understand all terms and conditions for any agreement you may sign.

  5. Trust your instincts.
    1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And always remember, it never hurts to do a little research on a company or product before you spend time and money.
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. 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, azag.gov. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting azag.gov/consumer/complaintform.html.
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Friday, March 4, 2011

Attorney General Tom Horne Announces TASA - Taskforce Against Senior Abuse

PHOENIX (Friday March 4, 2011) - Attorney General Tom Horne is pleased to announce the formation of the Attorney General Taskforce Against Senior Abuse (TASA) as an integral part of the Public Advocacy Division of the Attorney General’s Office. This is a reorganization and does not involve adding expense to the taxpayer.

Attorney General Tom Horne is committed to making elder abuse awareness, prevention and prosecution a priority. "Our seniors need to feel safe and secure in their homes. The Attorney General's Office is aware of the vulnerability of these citizens and is working to make sure older Arizonans are not victimized."

The Attorney General's Taskforce will work closely with other law enforcement offices, state and local agencies and senior-focused groups to assure an aggressive investigative and prosecutorial presence in the State. The Attorney General will convene an Advisory Panel to facilitate close cooperation with these offices and groups. These agencies and individuals are in the community on a daily basis and oftentimes are the first-responders in abusive situations. They are eyes and ears of the community. The Advisory Panel will bring together the ideas and resources of these community groups to combat elder abuse statewide.

TASA will provide statewide civil and criminal prosecution of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation and scams that target seniors. A key component of the Taskforce is the creation of an intra-office liaison with the Office's Criminal, Consumer Protection, Medicaid Fraud and Community Outreach Sections to prioritize elder abuse awareness, prevention and prosecution. Attorney General Horne's Office also initiated a dedicated telephone number through which the public, other city and county law enforcement agencies, caregivers or family members can report abusive predators who fail to carry out their responsibilities. "The vast majority of elder abuse cases are not reported to authorities. The dedicated number provides an avenue through which any suspected abuse or fraudulent activities can be reported and handled by the appropriate authorities" Horne noted.

The Taskforce Against Senior Abuse dedicated phone number is (602) 542-2124 or citizens may also email TASA at SeniorAbuse@azag.gov.

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