MCAO - Fraud & Identity Theft

Fraud & Identity Theft

Created in 2004, the Fraud & Identity Theft Enforcement (FITE) Bureau prosecutes a broad range of fraud offenses, including complex white collar financial crimes, Medicare and Social Security fraud, employee embezzlement, counterfeit merchandise, elder financial exploitation and trafficking in stolen identities.

These offenses are punishable by severe penalties under Arizona law as well as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). FITE attorneys work closely with local and federal agencies such as the Arizona Corporation Commission, FBI, ATF, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Secret Service to aggressively prosecute con artists, identity thieves and organized criminal syndicates.

Arizona ranks as one of the top states in fraud and identity theft crimes which target a wide variety of victims, including consumers, the elderly, retailers, investors and government agencies. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting citizens from these crimes by increasing public awareness and helping to shape legislation designed to hold these criminals accountable.