Lansing, MI - To ensure Michiganders remain hyper vigilant about protecting themselves from bad actors seeking to steal personal information, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced another series of informative and humorous videos focused on consumer protection.
Upon taking office, Nessel made a commitment to prioritize consumer protection in the Department of Attorney General and has continued to do so throughout the pandemic.
The second video focuses on imposter scams where bad actors typically insist that you owe money and in order to avoid further issues, you must pay them in gift cards.
“I cannot stress enough that as scammers get more sophisticated in their approach, you cannot trust your caller ID,” said Nessel. “Due to technology known as spoofing, bad actors can make it appear as if they’re calling from just about any phone number. That is why it’s crucial to independently verify who is calling and never ever provide your personal information or fulfill a request for a stranger who unexpectedly calls you. The fact is: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Scammers spoof local phone numbers in the hopes that it will motivate the victim to answer the phone. In the video, Attorney General Nessel shares key tips on how to deal with robocalls:
- Don’t answer robocalls but if you do, hang up immediately.
- Verify someone is who they say they are by hanging up and calling them on the phone number you know to be correct.
- Utilize call-blocking apps or services your phone provider may offer.
- NEVER provide your personal information – including your birthdate, Social Security Number, address, or bank account/credit card information – to a stranger who unexpectedly calls you.
- And remember, never fulfill a request for gift cards or other non-traditional payments to a caller.
Michigan’s Robocall Crackdown Team is working hard to combat illegal robocallers and continues to collaborate with state and federal partners. For tips on how to spot and stop illegal robocalls and hear recorded examples, visit the Attorney General’s robocall webpage.
More videos will be posted periodically on the Department’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts and a host of resources are always available by visiting the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection webpage.
Attorney General Nessel wants all Michiganders to remember that your connection to consumer protection is just a click or phone call away. Consumer complaints can be filed online at the Attorney General’s website, or by calling 877-765-8388.