Federal Bureau of Investigation agents stopped by Maricopa City Hall on Wednesday to talk with residents about how to avoid cyber scams, according to InMaricopa. Special Agent Natalie Frye urged people to slow down when a text, email or phone call seems suspicious, especially if the message pushes for a fast response.
The event was organized by Belinda Rodriguez from Rep. Eli Crane’s office as part of a Cyber Security and Fraud Seminar focused on protecting the community from scammers. It was the second community event of its kind since Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes held an elder scams town hall in February.
Frye pointed attendees to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which operates around the clock to collect reports and track scam trends. According to the center’s 2025 data, more than 1 million complaints were filed, with losses totaling $20.8 billion.
The FBI said people ages 40 to 60 are especially likely to be targeted by scams. Among the schemes discussed were fake text messages, phishing emails, business email compromise, tech-support scams, investment fraud, cryptocurrency schemes and scams using artificial intelligence.
Frye said if something does not add up, people should pause, verify the information and contact the agency directly. Residents at the seminar said they hoped to learn practical tips to help protect themselves and others.
