AG warns of new phone scam

VALLEY – Attorney General Terry Goddard warns consumers of a new phone solicitation scam offering Arizona seniors an identification card that is supposedly being sent to all United States senior citizens.

The AG’s office has learned that seniors are receiving calls offering the phony ID card and then a “medical card” that requires the person’s name and bank account number, and the caller sometimes pressures the senior to provide this information.

This is a scam, Goddard warns. These phone calls are fraudulent and are an attempt to gather information that could be used to steal personal identification and financial information.

The AG office offers the following tips:

·                      Be wary of callers who insist on gathering personal information. If you are being pressured, hang up.

·                      Do not give out any personal information, such as your Social Security number, bank account numbers or credit card numbers, to anyone you do not know.

·                      Report any suspicious calls to the Attorney General’s Office at (602) 542‑5763.

Identity theft is a serious crime. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Arizona ranked first in ID theft complaints in 2004 among all states, and metro Phoenix ranked No.1 among metropolitan areas in the country.

To file a complaint in person, the AG’s office has 32 satellite offices throughout Arizona with volunteers available to help. Locations and hours are posted at www.azag.gov.