Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced on Mar. 20 a new consumer alert warning residents about an increase in fraudulent text messages that claim recipients owe unpaid tolls or tickets. The alert aims to help Michiganders avoid falling victim to these scams, which are designed to steal personal and financial information by creating a false sense of urgency.
The issue is significant as hundreds of complaints have been received by the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team over the past year regarding these types of scams. These fraudulent messages often impersonate government agencies or private toll companies, and may include fake court notices, demands for immediate payment, or links to deceptive websites. According to Nessel, “Fake toll and ticket texts have been sent to phones across Michigan for a while now, but fraudsters are constantly evolving to try to steal our hard-earned money. This alert will help residents stay a step ahead of these scams. Remember, if you receive one of these texts, don’t respond. Report them as spam on your device.”
Recent scam attempts have included images claiming to be official notices from district courts or state agencies such as the Michigan Department of Transportation or Secretary of State. Some messages also pretend to be from private companies like SunPass or E-ZPass and contain QR codes leading users to fraudulent websites.
Government agencies do not send text messages demanding payment; instead, they mail official notices and provide legitimate payment options. They will not request payments via prepaid gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps.
Residents are advised not to reply to suspicious texts or click on any links or attachments within them. Instead, they should use their mobile device’s spam-blocking tools and report smishing texts by forwarding them to SPAM (7726) and sending them to the Federal Trade Commission.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General advances social efforts through actions against human trafficking and support for vulnerable populations according to the official website. The department also focuses on serving Michigan residents through public service initiatives and protection according to the official website. Dana Nessel serves as Michigan’s 54th attorney general according to the official website, with authority throughout the state aimed at safeguarding residents according to the official website. The department has influenced policy by drafting laws such as the Clean Slate law in 2019 for expungement opportunities according to the official website.
For more information or assistance with filing a complaint regarding scam texts, consumers can contact the Consumer Protection Team at P.O. Box 30213 Lansing, MI 48909; call 517-335-7599; fax 517-241-3771; use the toll-free number 877-765-8388; or access the online complaint form.
