by Ethan Faverino | Jul 20, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Arizona Governor’s Office along with Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) are addressing the issue of growing concern nationwide of individuals impersonating law enforcement officers.
These deceptive acts not only undermine public trust with law enforcement officials, but they also jeopardize the safety of the community.
Under the Arizona Revised Statutes §13-2411, impersonating a police officer with the intent to deceive or induce compliance is a class 6 felony.
If committed during another felony, such as assault or theft, the offense escalates to a class 4 felony.
Director of AZDPS, Colonel Jeffrey Glover, said, “Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a serious crime that undermines public trust and threatens community safety. Our agency is committed to rigorously investigating and prosecuting anyone who falsely presents themselves as a peace officer. We will not tolerate individuals who exploit the authority and image of law enforcement for criminal or deceptive purposes.”
Governor Katie Hobbs also affirmed this same belief by saying, “Our local and state law enforcement have a tough job to do. Impersonating them makes that job even tougher. It puts our officers in harm’s way, undermines public trust, and makes our communities less safe. Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a felony in Arizona, and anybody caught doing so will be charged to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Governor’s office and AZDPS urge the public to remain vigilant and offer the following tips to identify and respond to potential impersonators:
- If driving, pull over in a well-lit, populated area.
- Request identification because legitimate officers carry authorized credentials identifying themselves and their agency.
- Call 911 to verify the encounter.
- Note details like vehicle type, license plate number, or badge number.
- Stay calm to ensure clear thinking and safe decision making.
Anybody who believes they have encountered a law enforcement impersonator is urged to report the incident to the local authorities immediately providing as much information as possible.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 17, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Scammers are posing as recruiters, offering tempting remote job opportunities to steal your money or personal information.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging consumers to stay vigilant, as job scams continue to rise. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over 103,000 employment scam complaints were made in 2024, resulting in an overwhelming $220 million in losses.
Fraudulent recruiters claim to represent well-known companies and reach out via email, text message, or even social media platforms such as LinkedIn and WhatsApp.
These messages often come from personal email accounts like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com rather than corporate domains.
Scammers may send what appears to be an official invitation for a virtual interview, complete with job descriptions and benefits.
However, they often move quickly, extending job offers and sending paperwork that requests sensitive information, such as bank account details, Social Security number, or even in some cases, cryptocurrency payments for “training” or “equipment.”
According to the BBB’s 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report, employment scams ranked among the top five riskiest scams, with a medium loss of $1,500 per victim.
It is important to remember that legitimate employers do not request sensitive information or payment until after a formal hiring process is complete.
There are multiple ways to spot a job scam.
Make sure to check the sender’s email address or contact details. Legitimate recruiters use verified company emails or phone numbers, not personal accounts like Gmail and Yahoo.
Watch out for requests for personal information or any form of payment. Make sure that you are not asked to share your Social Security number, driver’s license number, bank details, or make any upfront payments before an interview or offer.
The FTC reported that 68% of job scam victims shared personal information before recognizing the fraud.
If you are unaware or uneasy about the recruiter or the company, you can always search for the name and companies online to confirm legitimacy. Most of the time you can go straight to the company’s official website or HR department or use other websites like the Better Business Bureau to make sure the recruiter and or company is legit.
Always be skeptical of job offers that are “too good to be true.” Job offers that promise high pay for little work or include vague responsibilities should raise concern.
The BBB notes that 43% of job scam complaints involved remote work offers, often targeting younger job seekers.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 16, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Blademir Angulo Audeves, a Mexican national, was arrested on July 8th , 2025, and charged with Harboring of an Illegal Alien, Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens, Improper Entry by an Alien, and Alien in Possession of a Firearm.
Angulo made his initial appearance in federal court on Friday, July 11th.
Homeland Security Investigations launched an investigation in March 2025 following allegations that Angulo was employing undocumented workers, without work authorization, at his taco restaurants in the Phoenix area.
The investigation revealed that at least 12 illegal aliens were working for Angulo, some of whom were residing at his home in Laveen, Arizona, or at a secondary residence on 16th Avenue.
On July 8th, Homeland Security executed federal search warrants at Angulo’s main residence, restaurant locations, and secondary residence.
Agents encountered several Mexican citizens without legal authorization to be in the United States at both residents, arresting them and Angulo.
During the search of his Laveen home, agents found three firearms along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the closet of the master bedroom.
Immigration records show Angulo was previously encountered in the U.S illegally in 2011 and voluntarily departed through Nogales, Arizona, in May of 2021.
At the time of his arrest, Angulo lacked legal permission to be in the U.S., prohibiting him from possessing firearms or ammunition.
At Angulo’s taco restaurants, Homeland Security also identified more Mexican citizens without legal authorization to be present or employed in the U.S.
Two individuals, Christian Sagaste-Garcia and Jose Luis Ambriz-Cortes, were encountered by Homeland Security on the same operation. They were both arrested and charged with Re-entry of a Removed Alien. They had been previously removed from the U.S. in October 2024 and February 2013, respectively.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice Initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and keeping our communities safe.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 15, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Dragon Bravo Fire, raging across the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, has escalated quickly, destroying the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and an estimated 50-80 structures including National Park Service administrative buildings and visitor centers.
Around 3:30 p.m. on July 12, 2025, the North Rim water treatment facility caught fire, resulting in a release of chlorine gas.
Chlorine gas, which is heavier than air, settled into lower elevations like the inner canyon. This prompted the immediate evacuation of all firefighters, hikers, and staff from the North Rim and inner canyon areas.
All river trips were instructed to bypass the Phantom Ranch to avoid risk exposure.
By 10:30 p.m. the fire intensified, driven by constant winds of 20-40 mph, joined with hot temperature and low humidity.
Despite efforts by firefighters, including aerial bucket drops near the Grand Canyon Lodge and Transept Trail, the chlorine gas leak prevented the use of aerial retardants in critical areas, hindering containment efforts.
Firefighters worked through the night under dangerous conditions to slow the fire’s spread but lost the Grand Canyon Lodge and other significant structures.
As of July 13, fire managers initiated retardant drops on the east side of the developed area, focusing on the Roaring Springs drainage, as part of an aggressive full-suppression strategy.
The fire remains highly active, fueled by persistent winds and dry conditions.
Preliminary damage assessments confirm the destruction of 50-80 structures, but no injuries or fatalities have been reported, and all staff and residents were safely evacuated prior to the fire’s escalation.
The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will remain closed to all visitors for the remainder of the 2025 season. The following inner areas are also closed until further notice:
- North Kaibab Trail
- South Kaibab Trial
- Bright Angel Trail below Havasupai Gardens
- Phantom Ranch
- All associated campgrounds
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 15, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
A new report reveals a rise in financial cybercrime across the United States, with Arizona ranking 47th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., as one of the riskiest states.
Based on the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) annual report, the findings highlight a national rise in crime frequency and financial impact. Arizona is among the states that faced significant challenges due to high victim counts, staggering losses, and inadequate legislative protections.
Arizona reported 2,239 victims per million residents in 2024, which was well above the national average, totaling $337 million in financial losses.
The state experienced a 61.02% increase in victim counts and a 51.84% rise in losses from 2022 to 2024. These losses are driven by an increase in high volume scams such as phishing, tech support fraud, and identity theft.
With a weighted score of 59.305 and only 10 cybersecurity-related laws, Arizona’s legislation has not kept up with the growing scale of cybersecurity threats.
Nationwide, financial cybercrime losses more than doubled from 2022 to 2024 reaching billions in reported damages. The report mentions that most states, including Arizona, saw double-digit increases in either victim counts or monetary losses.
Nationally, cyber security intrusions rose 613% from 2013 to 2023. In 2023 alone, there were 7.6 trillion hacking attempts, and 6.06 billion malware attacks recorded.
Americans lost $25.4 billion to phone phishing scams last year, and ransomware attempts occur nearly 20 times per second.
Cybercriminals are targeting multiple sectors, with the financial industry hit by 95.7% of successful attacks in 2023, costing $5.90 million per data breach.
The healthcare sector faced the highest breach costs at $10.93 million, while 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses.
The retail sector lost $2.9 million per breach, and the banking industry’s cybersecurity market is projected to grow from $74.3 billion in 2022 to $282 billion by 2032.
These trends show the broad economic toll, with the average global data breach costing $4.88 million in 2023.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
