Companies ordered to pay over $900K for tricking Arizona consumers with fake delivery notices

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Wednesday that a judge entered a judgment of more than $900,000 against a man whose companies left fake missed delivery slips on their doors to trick people into providing their personal information and consent to receive phone solicitations.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge entered a judgment of $902,508 against Matthew Willes and his companies, which include Valley Delivery LLC, My Home Services LLC, Next Day Delivery LLC and Next Day Holdings LLC.

The companies are accused of delivering thousands of slips that said "Sorry We Missed You" on people's doors with a phone number to reschedule a delivery that didn't exist.

Mayes' office said the companies then took down people's personal information and tricked them into consenting to further solicitation. They then sold that information to other companies, causing people to receive a flood of telemarketing calls.

“Mr. Willes and his companies went to great lengths to manipulate unsuspecting consumers into providing personal information and agreeing to receive telemarketing solicitations,” Mayes said in a written statement. “It is unbelievable how far some people will go to deceive Arizona consumers. I am pleased that my office was able to stop this deceptive practice and hold the defendants accountable for their actions."

The judgment came years after the Attorney General's Office sued Willes and the companies in 2020 when Mark Brnovich was in office.

Willes is ordered to pay $727,247 in civil penalties and $175,261 in costs and attorneys' fees.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Companies ordered to pay over $900K for tricking Arizona consumers with fake delivery notices