As the Detroit Auto Show rolls into town, so do the scam artists, preying on unwary attendees. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is raising the alarm on their tactics, encouraging consumers to stay vigilant against fraud aimed at snatching personal and financial details. In a press release, Nessel warned, per the Michigan Department of Attorney General, “The Detroit Auto Show gives scammers an opportunity to steal your hard-earned money.”
Deceptive communications, such as phishing emails and smishing texts that seem to originate from trusted sources like the Auto Show or the City of Detroit, are used by fraudsters to lure individuals to counterfeit websites. These sites are designed to extract sensitive data such as login credentials and credit card information. Nessel advises the public to avoid downloading any attachments in these messages, as they might harbor malicious software. Furthermore, do not follow any links or respond to the senders of these dubious messages.
For those who encounter suspicious phone calls that smell of phishing, the advice is to hang up or terminate the call immediately. Legitimate entities don’t call out of the blue requesting personal info. Another target point for scammers is ATMs, where skimming and shimming are employed to hijack credit card data. Nessel recommends using cash over cards, consistently reviewing bank statements, steering clear of stand-alone ATMs, and covering the PIN pad when entering your number to thwart these theft attempts.
The Detroit Auto Show, housed at Huntington Place until January 25, is an iconic event but also a prime playground for criminals. Attendees are urged to report any suspected credit card fraud to their local police department. Victims can then reach out to the Department of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team.
