In a major victory for consumer protection, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced a $902,508 judgment against Matthew Willes and his companies—Valley Delivery LLC, My Home Services LLC, Next Day Delivery LLC, and Next Day Holdings LLC—after they were found guilty of deceiving thousands of Arizonans with fraudulent “missed delivery” slips. The judgment, handed down by the Maricopa County Superior Court, marks the end of a years-long legal battle to hold the companies accountable for their deceitful practices.
The companies under Willes’s control distributed thousands of misleading “Sorry We Missed You” slips to unsuspecting Arizona residents. These slips, which appeared to be legitimate delivery notices, prompted consumers to call a phone number to reschedule a supposed delivery. However, there were no packages to be delivered. Instead, when consumers called, they unknowingly provided their personal information, which was then used to solicit telemarketing calls. Worse still, the companies sold this information to third-party marketers, resulting in a deluge of unwanted solicitations.
“Mr. Willes and his companies went to great lengths to manipulate unsuspecting consumers into providing personal information and agreeing to receive telemarketing solicitations,” Attorney General Mayes said. “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 Attorney General’s Office first filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against Willes and his companies in 2020, citing their blatant violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. The court’s judgment found that the defendants engaged in several deceptive and unfair practices, including misrepresenting the existence of a missed delivery to obtain personal information, creating misleading websites to further the scam, and failing to adequately disclose their business practices both online and on the fake delivery slips.
The judgment requires the defendants to pay $727,247 in civil penalties and an additional $175,261 in costs and attorneys’ fees. Importantly, it also prohibits Willes and his companies from engaging in this type of deceptive business in the future, ensuring that Arizona consumers are protected from such fraudulent activities.
The ruling serves as a stern warning to those who might seek to exploit consumers through dishonest practices. Attorney General Mayes emphasized that her office remains vigilant and committed to safeguarding the rights of Arizonans, stating, “We will continue to pursue and prosecute those who think they can deceive and manipulate the people of Arizona. Today’s judgment is a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated.”
