Lansing, MI - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel this week served civil subpoenas upon Kyle Scappaticci and Emily Scappaticci, both of Washtenaw County, and Kevin Scappaticci, of Wayne County, formally beginning an investigation under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA) into their wildlife and pest control marketing and business practices.
This investigation was recently authorized by an order from Judge James Jamo of the 30th Circuit Court for Ingham County. The Scappaticcis allegedly operate many wildlife and pest control businesses in Michigan and surrounding states under various aliases. There is probable cause to believe the Scappaticcis employ deceptive business practices and provide false or misleading information to consumers about their businesses, often advertising them to be distinct, local, and licensed, when they are not.
The businesses operated by the Scappaticcis include Pestway LLC, Michigan Wildlife Removal LLC, Platinum Wildlife Removal LLC, and likely many more.
The Attorney General alleges there is probable cause to believe the Scappaticcis engage in various unfair, unconscionable, or deceptive business practices in violation of the MCPA. The Attorney General specifically alleges the web of aliased businesses engage in deceptive advertising, creating several business websites optimized to appear in smart-device web searches, that appear to be distinct, local, and licensed businesses. The Attorney General contends that a single business entity disguising itself as several local businesses is a deceptive marketing practice. It appears the named business at the web address often serves merely as a mask for the larger business.
Further alleged by the Attorney General is that the Scappaticcis provide misleading or false information about the interrelation between their businesses, utilizing artificial buyouts between their own entities to negate warranties purchased by customers.
“Consumers should carefully scrutinize businesses they find from casual web searches,” said Nessel. “Not every business proclaiming to be a local, licensed operator lives up to their billing. Scammers and unscrupulous businesses are clever and understand how to game search results and listings to prioritize their services. There are many review and reference resources available to consumers, such as the Better Business Bureau, that can help would-be customers learn about contractors before they hire.”
The Order signed by Judge Jamo authorizes the Department of Attorney General to issue subpoenas and conduct a civil investigation into the alleged consumer protection violations of the Scappaticcis.
The Department of Attorney General encourages consumers who believe they have been wronged by unlawful business practices to contact the Department’s Consumer Protection Team:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI
48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form