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Attorney General’s consumer affairs division reports spike in complaints, flags robocall and fake‑dealership scams
Summary
Claire Marcellus of the Attorney General’s Division of Consumer Affairs told the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee that Tennessee saw 9,938 consumer complaints in 2025 (a 16% increase) and recovered over $3.6 million for consumers; the office warned of AI‑assisted complaint submissions and fake dealership websites.
Claire Marcellus, director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the attorney general’s office, delivered the division’s statutorily required report and described an uptick in complaints to 9,938 in 2025 — a 16% increase over the prior year. Marcellus said two contributing factors were limited capacity at some federal consumer agencies during shutdowns and growing use of artificial intelligence to generate or prompt consumers to file complaints.
Marcellus highlighted top complaint categories (home improvements/home warranties, internet sales and debtor/creditor issues), and described a recent rise in fake‑dealership websites that take payments for vehicles that are never delivered. She told the committee the division recovered “over 3,600,000 in cash and services for complainants in 2025.” On robocalls and do‑not‑call issues, DCA advised consumers not to answer suspicious calls, to use carrier and device blocking tools, and to screen via voicemail when possible. Senators asked how to help vulnerable populations; Marcellus said the division provides guides and a consumer educator who conducts statewide presentations, especially aimed at senior centers.
