Fake delivery service from Arizona has to pay $900,000 in fraud case

PHOENIX – A fake delivery service in Arizona that tricked consumers into giving personal information to telemarketers has been fined more than $900,000, authorities said Wednesday.

A Maricopa County Superior Court commissioner entered a default judgment on June 25 against Matthew Willes and his companies – Valley Delivery, My Home Services, Next Day Delivery and Next Day Services.

The ruling followed a four-year legal battle that began in March 2020, when then-Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed a consumer fraud complaint against Willes over his companies' deceptive practices.

According to the court order, the companies posted “Sorry, we missed you” notes on the front doors of hundreds of thousands of homes in the Phoenix metropolitan area. When a resident called the number on the note, the fake Arizona delivery service was able to match the caller's number to its address.

“During the phone call, defendant's representatives typically sent the homeowner a text message containing a link that the homeowner was asked to click to confirm the information. The link took the homeowner to an online form where he unwittingly agreed to receive telephone solicitations,” the default judgment states.

Companies affiliated with the defendants – including Protection Source, Aqua Bright, Nergy, Latch Windows and Jax Homes – then targeted the homeowners with sales calls, the order says.

How widespread were fake delivery services in Arizona?

The defendants have distributed more than 333,000 door signs since 2017, causing more than 60,000 homeowners to respond.

Willes and his companies were ordered to pay the state approximately $747,000 in civil penalties and more than $175,000 in court costs and attorney fees.

The defendants were also ordered to stop the fraudulent practices that led to their indictment.

“Mr. Willes and his companies went to great lengths to trick unsuspecting consumers into giving up personal information and agreeing to receive telemarketing advertisements,” Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a press release Wednesday. “It is unbelievable the lengths 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.”

Arizona residents who believe they have been victims of consumer fraud can file a complaint through the Attorney General's website.

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