Key Findings
Arizona packs more scam activity into fewer area codes than almost any other state. ScamVerify™ analysis of 9.7 million FTC phone complaint records reveals 213,383 complaints from 80,536 unique scam numbers across just 5 Arizona area codes. The state ranks 13th nationally in total volume but #3 per capita for Do Not Call complaints at 819 per 100,000 residents (FTC FY 2025), trailing only Delaware and Ohio.
Tucson is the headline: the city ranks #1 in the United States for robocall complaints per capita at 751 per 100,000 residents, according to NumberBarn's analysis of FTC data. The 480 Phoenix area code ranks #12 nationally with 57,243 complaints, and 520 Tucson ranks #20 with 51,032. Three of Arizona's five area codes rank in the national top 62. Arizona also has the dubious distinction of being home to Avid Telecom, the Tucson-based company at the center of the 47-state robocall lawsuit that placed 7.5 billion illegal calls before being shut down.
All 5 Arizona Area Codes: Ranked by Complaints
| Rank | Area Code | Region | Numbers | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 480 | Phoenix/Scottsdale | 21,367 | 57,243 | 2.7 | 71.1% | #12 |
| 2 | 520 | Tucson | 18,798 | 51,032 | 2.7 | 63.1% | #20 |
| 3 | 928 | Flagstaff/Yuma | 15,564 | 40,669 | 2.6 | 65.3% | #61 |
| 4 | 602 | Central Phoenix | 15,525 | 40,231 | 2.6 | 73.6% | #62 |
| 5 | 623 | West Phoenix | 9,282 | 24,208 | 2.6 | 71.4% | #191 |
| Total | 80,536 | 213,383 | 2.7 avg | 68.9% avg |
Arizona averages 42,677 complaints per area code, the highest ratio of any state with 5 or more area codes. For comparison, California averages 28,329 per code, Florida 34,597, and Ohio 35,341. Arizona's five codes are each carrying the scam volume of a major metro area.
Tucson: America's Robocall Capital
Tucson holds a distinction no city wants: #1 in the United States for robocall complaints per capita at 751 per 100,000 residents. St. Petersburg, Florida (#2 at 700 per 100,000) is the only other city in the same range.
| City | Area Code | Complaints | Nat'l Rank | Per Capita Robocall Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | 520 | 51,032 | #20 | #1 nationally |
| Phoenix | 480 | 57,243 | #12 | Top 10 |
| Phoenix (central) | 602 | 40,231 | #62 | Top 10 |
Tucson's 520 area code has a 63.1% in-state targeting rate, lower than Phoenix's codes (71-74%). Debt reduction is the #1 category for 520 with 4,395 complaints at 77.5% robocall rate, while medical scams lead Phoenix's 480 at 6,586 complaints.
The explanation for Tucson's outsized complaint rate connects to a specific company: Avid Telecom was based in Tucson. Before being shut down by a 47-state attorney general coalition, Avid Telecom facilitated 7.5 billion illegal robocalls from its Tucson operations. While the company has been dismantled, its legacy is visible in the complaint data, and the VoIP infrastructure it used remains available to other operations.
Arizona's Solar Scam Problem
Arizona's 300+ sunny days per year make it one of the top residential solar markets in the country, and scammers exploit this.
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical and prescriptions | 19,797 | 52.0% |
| 2 | Government/business impersonation | 14,510 | 54.4% |
| 3 | Debt reduction | 13,483 | 72.2% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 4,239 | 66.1% |
| 5 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 3,915 | 31.5% |
| 6 | Home improvement and cleaning | 2,536 | 40.1% |
| 7 | Charities | 1,728 | 49.5% |
| 8 | Vacation and timeshares | 1,057 | 36.3% |
Energy and solar scams rank #5 with 3,915 complaints. The 31.5% robocall rate is the lowest of any category, meaning the vast majority of solar scam calls use live operators. This is consistent with the solar scam playbook: callers claim to represent APS or SRP (Arizona's two major utilities) or government solar incentive programs, then hand off to a closer who sells overpriced or fraudulent solar installations.
AG Kris Mayes sued Vision Solar and Solar Xchange for illegal telemarketing and false solar savings claims. APS has explicitly warned that it never partners with door-to-door solar installers or calls to offer solar panels. Both APS and SRP impersonation calls are a documented pattern across all 5 Arizona area codes.
For comparison, California's energy/solar complaints (39,691) dwarf Arizona's (3,915) in absolute terms, but Arizona's ratio (1.8% of total) is consistent with California's (4.2%) when adjusting for the much larger CA complaint base. Both states share the same solar scam ecosystem. See ScamVerify's California Phone Scam Report for the full solar analysis.
Top 10 Most Reported Arizona Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (480) 879-0834 | 558 | Impersonation (32.6%), debt (20.3%) |
| 2 | (623) 288-8586 | 183 | Mixed |
| 3 | (602) 844-1554 | 166 | Home improvement, dropped calls |
| 4 | (520) 564-5141 | 154 | Mixed |
| 5 | (520) 641-6308 | 132 | Mixed |
| 6 | (928) 499-3248 | 131 | Mixed |
| 7 | (928) 707-8669 | 130 | Charities |
| 8 | (480) 903-5117 | 122 | Mixed |
| 9 | (480) 593-6654 | 120 | Debt reduction (100%) |
| 10 | (480) 866-1060 | 113 | Mixed |
(480) 879-0834 leads Arizona with 558 complaints, the highest single-number count of any state in this batch. It is a multi-category operation: 182 impersonation, 113 debt reduction, 208 classified as "other." (480) 593-6654 is a dedicated debt reduction line with 100% of its 120 complaints in that category. Four of the top 10 are from the 480 Phoenix area code.
The AI Voice Clone Warning
AG Mayes issued one of the most specific AI scam warnings of any state attorney general in March 2026. Working with an ASU professor, she warned that scammers need only 3 seconds of recorded audio to clone a person's voice. The cloned voice is then used to call family members requesting emergency money.
Mayes recommended that Arizona families establish a code word system for verifying identity during phone calls. Arizona's large retiree population (Sun City, Green Valley, Sedona) makes it particularly vulnerable to AI-powered grandparent scams where a cloned grandchild's voice calls requesting bail money or emergency funds.
Neighbor Spoofing and In-State Targeting
| Area Code | In-State % | Top Category |
|---|---|---|
| 602 Central Phoenix | 73.6% | Medical (4,362) |
| 480 Phoenix/Scottsdale | 71.1% | Medical (6,586) |
| 623 West Phoenix | 71.4% | Medical (2,332) |
| 928 Flagstaff/Yuma | 65.3% | Medical (2,847) |
| 520 Tucson | 63.1% | Debt reduction (4,395) |
Phoenix metro codes (602, 480, 623) cluster at 71-74% in-state targeting, effective for neighbor spoofing against the 4.9 million Phoenix metro residents. Tucson (520) and rural Arizona (928) have lower in-state rates (63-65%), indicating more out-of-state campaign usage.
All five area codes have medical scams as either #1 or #2, a statewide pattern likely driven by Arizona's 1.3 million residents over age 65 and the state's growing retirement community population.
Arizona vs. Other States
| State | Area Codes | Complaints | Per Code Avg | DNC Per Capita |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 12 | 424,094 | 35,341 | 921/100K (#2) |
| Illinois | 13 | 367,123 | 28,240 | 943/100K (#4) |
| Arizona | 5 | 213,383 | 42,677 | 819/100K (#3) |
| Michigan | 11 | 264,487 | 24,044 | N/A |
Arizona's 42,677 complaints per area code is the highest ratio of any state in our series. The state achieves #3 per capita nationally with only 5 area codes, each carrying extraordinary individual volume. AG Mayes recovered $4 million for Arizona consumers in 2025 and partnered with the BBB on consumer education campaigns.
What Arizonans Can Do
- Check any suspicious number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. Arizona has 80,536 known scam numbers in our database.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the AZ AG at 602-542-5763 (Phoenix) or 520-628-6648 (Tucson).
- Be cautious of solar and utility calls. APS and SRP never call to offer solar panels or threaten disconnection. AG Mayes has sued solar telemarketers for false savings claims.
- Establish a family code word. AG Mayes warns that AI can clone a voice from just 3 seconds of audio. A shared code word that must be spoken during emergency calls can prevent AI voice clone scams targeting elderly family members.
- Tucson residents: be especially vigilant. Tucson is the #1 city for robocall complaints per capita in the United States. The Avid Telecom robocall operation was based in Tucson before being shut down, and residual VoIP infrastructure continues to be exploited.
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FAQ
Why is Tucson the #1 city for robocalls per capita?
Tucson has 751 robocall complaints per 100,000 residents, the highest rate of any U.S. city. Two factors drive this. First, Avid Telecom, the company at the center of a 47-state attorney general robocall lawsuit that facilitated 7.5 billion illegal calls, was based in Tucson. While the company was shut down, the VoIP infrastructure and number pools established there remain. Second, Tucson's 520 area code has a 63.1% in-state targeting rate with high debt reduction volume (4,395 complaints, 77.5% robocall rate), indicating it is used for both local and nationwide campaigns.
How does Arizona compare to other states per capita?
Arizona ranks #3 per capita for DNC complaints at 819 per 100,000 residents (FTC FY 2025), behind Delaware (#1) and Ohio (#2 at 921). Arizona achieves this with only 5 area codes, giving it the highest per-area-code complaint average (42,677) of any state in our series. Three of the five codes rank in the national top 62.
Are solar scam calls a big problem in Arizona?
Yes. Energy and solar scams account for 3,915 complaints with a 31.5% robocall rate (the lowest of any category, meaning most are live-operator calls). AG Mayes sued Vision Solar and Solar Xchange for illegal telemarketing and false savings claims. APS and SRP confirm they never partner with door-to-door solar installers or call to offer solar panels. Arizona's 300+ sunny days per year make solar pitches plausible, which is exactly what scammers exploit.
What is the AI voice cloning scam Arizona is warning about?
AG Mayes, working with an ASU professor, warned in March 2026 that scammers need only 3 seconds of recorded audio to clone a person's voice. The cloned voice calls family members (typically elderly parents or grandparents) requesting emergency money. Arizona's large retiree population in communities like Sun City and Green Valley makes this scam particularly effective. The recommended defense is establishing a family code word for identity verification.
What happened to Avid Telecom?
Avid Telecom was a Tucson-based voice service provider that facilitated 7.5 billion illegal robocalls. A coalition of 47 state attorneys general, led by Arizona AG Mayes, sued the company. Avid had been warned 300+ times before the lawsuit. The company has been shut down, but its case illustrates how a single provider in one city can enable billions of scam calls nationwide. Arizona was literally home to one of the largest robocall operations in U.S. history.
