Michigan's top law enforcement official is doubling down on warnings to residents about savvy cyber crooks posing as government agents. Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a consumer alert to the public, cautioning everyone to stay alert to government imposter scams that come through emails, calls, and texts. These scammers attempt to hoodwink individuals into believing they are in contact with actual government departments or law enforcement agencies, according to the Michigan Department of Attorney General.
Consumers are getting fooled by messages offering special medication rates, solicitations for personal information updates, or demands for money. Attorney General Nessel's office is adamant that any links or attachments found in these communications should be avoided, as they may be laced with viruses designed to infiltrate devices and mine sensitive information. In fact, she states, “When you receive these messages, silence is always the best policy,” further stressing that it's prudent for anyone contacted by supposed government representatives to double-check by reaching out directly to the agencies using officially listed contact details.
The tactics recommended by AG Nessel to protect against these types of fraud include blocking the sender's number or email, avoiding clicking any suspicious links or opening dubious attachments, reporting the spam, and promptly deleting the message from any devices. On top of these preventative measures, her office wants to remind Michiganders that legitimate government entities do not ask for personal information or insist on payments via email, phone calls, or texts – but rather, they send official notices through the mail with listed payment options, and certainly don't accept payment in the form of prepaid gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrencies, or through payment apps.
