State accuses Bullhead City watercraft rental firm of fraud

BULLHEAD CITY - A Bullhead City business that rents personal watercraft is being accused by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office of fraud by misleading customers about its prices.

The state filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Malows Jet Ski Rentals LLC, its owner, Fariba Badre and its manager, Mahriar Akbari, the Mohave Valley Daily News reports. The company is accused of misleading advertisements and charging customers more than advertised prices, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

The defendants would allegedly advertise $65 all-day personal watercraft rentals but would charge up to $225 for rentals on Fridays, weekends and holidays. It also failed to disclose an additional $15 fee to launch and recover the rentals and gas charges, said Mia Garcia, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s Office.

The complaint also accuses the company of refusing to refund customers’ refundable deposits, charging customers for damage to watercraft when they were already damage and overcharging customers for gas based on the wrong size gas tank.