Phoenix, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich is warning Arizonans to be aware of door-to-door home alarm security scams. The scam involves using deceptive sales tactics and misleading statements to get consumers to sign up for home alarm contracts or switch home alarm monitoring services.
“Everyone wants to feel safe at home and these scam artists prey on people's desire to keep their families safe,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. "Remember, don't give in to high pressure sales tactics.”
Third-party salespeople may pretend they are affiliated with consumers’ current home security company. Consumers are also told their equipment needs to be upgraded or replaced, or that their current monitoring company is going out of business and the company they represent will be taking over the monitoring service.
Consumers can find themselves obligated under multiple contracts with different companies following such deceptive sales tactics and may even have to pay substantial amounts of money to re-install equipment that may have been removed during the installation of any new equipment.
AG Brnovich Offers the Following Advice:
- Always be on guard when approached at home and never feel obligated to answer the door, especially when home alone.
- Ask to see a salesperson’s identification and permit that allows him or her to engage in home solicitations in your city.
- If you already use a home security system, contact that company to confirm any statements made regarding your account or service.
- Do not get pressured into signing any documents or installing any equipment immediately; a reputable company will allow you to review all terms and conditions before asking you to sign a contract or install equipment.
Arizona law gives consumers until midnight of the third business day to cancel home solicitation sales purchases in writing and sellers must return any payments made within ten days of the cancellation.
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. Consumers can also file complaints online by visiting the Attorney General’s website at https://www.azag.gov/complaints/consumer .