Arnold Diaz, the winner of 36 Emmy awards for his consumer investigative reporting, joined Fox's WNYW-TV in March 2006. He continues his longstanding investigative career with his infamous "Shame, Shame, Shame" pieces His reports regularly expose wrongdoing and incompetence by private industry and government agencies, and often lead to actions by law enforcement officials, as well as the enactment of legislation. His reports have been cited by numerous prosecutors as being instrumental in obtaining jail time for several scam artists.
Previously, Diaz worked as a consumer reporter for the national newsmagazine ABC News "20/20," from 1995 to 2003. There, he won the National Press Club Consumer Journalism Award and the Consumer Federation of America Media Service Award. Prior to joining "20/20," he was an investigative reporter at WCBS-TV in New York, from 1973 to 1995, where he began his highly praised Shame On You reports. He was the senior correspondent for five one-hour Shame On You primetime specials broadcast on the CBS Television Network. He was also a regular contributor to CBS This Morning and was inducted into the National Academy of Arts and Sciences Silver Circle in 1995.
Among his notable reports are a series of exposes on toxic chemical waste dumping by Mafia-owned carting companies; the fraudulent mislabeling of high-calorie, high-fat food, which led to statewide action by the New York agricultural department; an investigation into school custodians padding their payroll with relatives, and failing to do their required work; uncovering a taxi-cab ring ripping off tourists at Grand Central Station; proving how Medicare and Medicaid were wasting millions of taxpayer dollars by overpaying for bandages; catching electronic stores selling used merchandise as new and confronting a Postal Service letter-carrier illegally charging welfare recipients to deliver their government checks.
He also caught jewelers on camera selling under-karrated gold; confronted auto dealers advertising specials that didn't exist, cornered chimney sweeps who carry loose bricks and dead birds as price-gouging scams and showed how home health care attendants with violent criminal pasts were being hired and sent into the homes of vulnerable elderly citizens.
While at ABC, Diaz uncovered a major auto accident ring bilking insurers for millions, exposed a high-tech scam which billed added charges on consumers' telephone bills for services they never received, and reported an undercover investigation which examined why black shoppers are often unfairly targeted by department store security personnel and salespeople as potential thieves.
His other reports included an investigation into the forced commitment of elderly people by for-profit psychiatric hospitals that led to corrective legislation and changes in Medicare policy. His investigation into the epidemic problem of e-coli contaminated ground beef has been praised by both the Food and Drug Administration and the meat industry.
Diaz was born in Brooklyn. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Florida State University, and received his master's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago. Diaz lives with his wife and three children in Westchester County, N.Y.
Tuesday, May 7 2013 8:30 AM EDT2013-05-07 12:30:49 GMT
A lot of New York restaurants cater to the rich and famous. But some say one chic eatery is going too far by reserving public parking spaces for its private use.
A lot of New York restaurants cater to the rich and famous. But some say one chic eatery is going too far by reserving public parking spaces for its private use.
Thursday, March 28 2013 2:28 PM EDT2013-03-28 18:28:53 GMT
A New York City landlord goes into our hall of shame. Arnold Diaz reports that the landlord renting out apartments in a building in Astoria that has been declared unsafe to live in.
A New York City landlord goes into our hall of shame. Arnold Diaz reports that the landlord renting out apartments in a building in Astoria that has been declared unsafe to live in.
Wednesday, March 20 2013 8:59 PM EDT2013-03-21 00:59:50 GMT
A convicted felon who preys on the handicapped and the elderly is back in Arnold Diaz's Shame, Shame, Shame Hall of Fame. Gary Maggio, first exposed almost a year ago, is facing new criminal charges. Maggio,
A convicted felon who preys on the handicapped and the elderly is back in Arnold Diaz's Shame, Shame, Shame Hall of Fame. Gary Maggio, first exposed almost a year ago, is facing new criminal charges. Maggio,
Wednesday, February 13 2013 10:40 PM EST2013-02-14 03:40:35 GMT
A company that's been promising the American dream to people with bad credit is headed into our Hall of Shame. Arnold Diaz went to the Long Island-based business to confront the owners.
A company that's been promising the American dream to people with bad credit is headed into our Hall of Shame. Arnold Diaz went to the Long Island-based business to confront the owners.
Wednesday, February 6 2013 10:22 PM EST2013-02-07 03:22:53 GMT
The mayor Union City, New Jersey, is going into the Hall of Shame for the second time. Arnold Diaz reports that the problem this time the free ride the mayor is giving to residents of a luxury high-rise
The mayor Union City, New Jersey, is going into the Hall of Shame for the second time. Arnold Diaz reports that the problem this time the free ride the mayor is giving to residents of a luxury high-rise
Friday, February 1 2013 8:45 AM EST2013-02-01 13:45:49 GMT
Watch out if you're thinking of buying theater tickets on Craigslist. You could end up meeting the same two guys on a street corner that Arnold Diaz did, and that could be big trouble.
Watch out if you're thinking of buying theater tickets on Craigslist. You could end up meeting the same two guys on a street corner that Arnold Diaz did, and that could be big trouble.
Thursday, January 24 2013 8:37 AM EST2013-01-24 13:37:45 GMT
Fox 5's Arnold Diaz investigated a chimney sweep company that apparently is skipping the sweep part of the job. The company entices homeowners with low price quotes.
Fox 5's Arnold Diaz investigated a chimney sweep company that apparently is skipping the sweep part of the job. The company entices homeowners with low price quotes. But one homeowner discovered it was
Wednesday, January 9 2013 10:23 PM EST2013-01-10 03:23:19 GMT
Freshly squeezed juice is healthy and tasty, and juice bars and carts are popping up all across the city. Many of us are willing to pay a higher price for it, especially if it is organic.
Freshly squeezed juice is healthy and tasty, and juice bars and carts are popping up all across the city. Many of us are willing to pay a higher price for it, especially if it is organic.
Wednesday, October 17 2012 11:32 PM EDT2012-10-18 03:32:58 GMT
In July, Fox 5 reported about a woman who was been living practically rent-free for more than 10 years. Now there are even more problems for her former landlord.
In July, Fox 5 reported about a woman who was been living practically rent-free for more than 10 years. Now there are even more problems for her former landlord.
Thursday, September 27 2012 10:50 AM EDT2012-09-27 14:50:27 GMT
When Arnold Diaz tried asking the owner of a Queens furniture store about the many complaints against the shop, a heated exchange unfolded. If you are a customer of Fatima Furniture & Mattress or Natural
When Arnold Diaz tried asking the owner of a Queens furniture store about the many complaints against the shop, a heated exchange unfolded. If you are a customer of Fatima Furniture & Mattress or Natural
Wednesday, September 19 2012 10:54 PM EDT2012-09-20 02:54:43 GMT
Ice cream trucks are a part of American life. Kids salivate at the sound of the trucks coming down the block. But before you buy your next soft-serve ice cream or yogurt, take a look at what we found
Ice cream trucks are a part of American life. Kids salivate at the sound of the trucks coming down the block. But before you buy your next soft-serve ice cream or yogurt, take a look at what we found
Monday, September 10 2012 10:58 PM EDT2012-09-11 02:58:17 GMT
A California-based food company that sells its products online and in health food stores is back in the Fox 5 Hall of Shame. Once again we caught them lying on their labels. That false information put
A California-based food company that sells its products online and in health food stores is back in the Fox 5 Hall of Shame. Once again we caught them lying on their labels. That false information put
Wednesday, August 15 2012 10:22 PM EDT2012-08-16 02:22:06 GMT
Arnold Diaz has an update on a felon turned fundraiser. Gary Maggio is accused of stealing thousands of dollars that was supposed to help a suffering little girl.
Arnold Diaz has an update on a felon turned fundraiser. Gary Maggio is accused of stealing thousands of dollars that was supposed to help a suffering little girl.
Wednesday, August 8 2012 10:52 PM EDT2012-08-09 02:52:21 GMT
If you're looking to buy concert tickets on Craigslist, you should heed this warning. A Fox 5 undercover sting has caught yet another con artist selling fake tickets for hundreds of dollars.
If you're looking to buy concert tickets on Craigslist, you should heed this warning. A Fox 5 undercover sting has caught yet another con artist selling fake tickets for hundreds of dollars.
Wednesday, August 1 2012 8:32 AM EDT2012-08-01 12:32:06 GMT
Children under the age of 18 have been able to get body piercing in New York without parental consent.
Children under the age of 18 have been able to get body piercing in New York without parental consent. But the law has just been changed -- a year after Fox 5's Arnold Diaz first exposed the legal loophole.
Thursday, July 26 2012 11:40 AM EDT2012-07-26 15:40:12 GMT
Once again a Shame, Shame, Shame report gets action. A Brooklyn homeowner's frustrating battle with city bureaucracy is finally over thanks to Fox 5. City contractors have finally fixed the sidewalk outside
Once again a Shame, Shame, Shame report gets action. A Brooklyn homeowner's frustrating battle with city bureaucracy is finally over thanks to Fox 5. City contractors have finally fixed the sidewalk outside
Parents say there ought to be a law against body piercing at a young age. Doctors and dentists say it can be dangerous. But many young kids are doing it anyway.
Parents say there ought to be a law against body piercing at a young age. Doctors and dentists say it can be dangerous. But many young kids are doing it anyway.
The popular boy band One Direction played to a packed house Saturday night. Unfortunately, many people who paid to see the band never got to see the concert.
The popular boy band One Direction played to a packed house Saturday night. Unfortunately, many people who paid to see the band never got to see the concert.
Thursday, May 10 2012 2:22 PM EDT2012-05-10 18:22:32 GMT
Most of us sign up for E-ZPass for two reasons: the lines are a lot shorter and you get a discount on the tolls. Or do you? It depends on where your E-ZPass is from. Thanks to an email from a fox 5 viewer,
Most of us sign up for E-ZPass for two reasons: the lines are a lot shorter and you get a discount on the tolls. Or do you? It depends on where your E-ZPass is from. Thanks to an email from a fox 5 viewer,