Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is focusing on consumer protection during the holiday season by highlighting five key alerts aimed at helping residents safeguard their finances, packages, and personal data. The campaign draws inspiration from well-known holiday movies and addresses several risks common at this time of year.
The topics covered in the campaign include social media spoofing, wise charitable giving, package theft by “porch pirates,” ransomware threats, and safe travel booking practices. For social media spoofing, consumers are advised to check website URLs and look for security indicators before trusting online deals. When donating to charities, people should verify organizations using resources like Charity Navigator or the IRS database. To avoid package theft, suggestions include tracking deliveries and using secure pickup options. Preventive measures against ransomware include keeping devices updated and avoiding suspicious links. For travel bookings, officials recommend using reputable websites and not wiring money for reservations.
Attorney General Nessel stated: “Bad actors use this time of year to take advantage of holiday shopping, travel, and generosity. Whether it’s ensuring you don’t fall for that sales price that’s too good to be true, taking steps to protect your deliveries from porch pirates, or guarding against hackers, these consumer alerts can help you keep your finances and personal information safe throughout the season.”
To provide ongoing support against scams and deceptive practices, Nessel’s office has launched a new social media account called Michigan Consumer Protection (@MIConsumerWatch). This account will share scam alerts, consumer tips, educational resources, and updates from the Department of Attorney General across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
Throughout the campaign period, weekly press releases will outline current scams each Monday while daily posts will appear on MI Consumer Alerts’ social media accounts.