Great Lakes Wire

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has cautioned attendees of the upcoming NFL Draft in Detroit to be vigilant against potential parking scams. Nessel emphasized the importance of staying alert to deceptive practices that could jeopardize the safety of attendees' vehicles during the event.

"Hosting the Draft is a major win for Detroit and Michigan, but this exciting event comes with the potential risk of parking scams," Nessel stated. "By following some simple tips, you can avoid falling victim to deceptive parking practices and ensure your car stays safe during the event."

Nessel highlighted the risks associated with privately owned parking lots, where scammers may attempt to sell unauthorized parking spaces, leading to potential consequences such as ticketing, towing, or even theft of vehicles.

She advised attendees to take precautions such as requesting a receipt or parking ticket upon payment, avoiding handing over keys to attendants without proper valet signs and confirmation, and verifying the legitimacy of valet services in advance.

Furthermore, Nessel warned about the prevalence of fake parking tickets issued by bad actors, which may prompt consumers to make payments online or through QR codes. She urged residents to verify the authenticity of any parking tickets by contacting the municipality directly or checking with the court before following payment instructions online.

The Better Business Bureau offered the following tips to help individuals avoid falling victim to parking scams:

- Conduct research on available parking and local parking requirements before visiting a new location, especially if you have out-of-state plates.

- Scrutinize parking citations carefully, comparing information on the ticket to official city parking ticket websites. Look for .gov or .ca (in Canada) designations on government sites and ensure secure connections for online payments.

- Pay attention to the entity and address to which checks for tickets should be made out to, as legitimate government organizations should be specified.

- Whenever possible, pay traffic citations by credit card to facilitate easier resolution of fraudulent charges if a scam is detected.

Attendees were encouraged to be proactive in protecting themselves against parking scams during the NFL Draft in Detroit by following these guidelines and remaining vigilant. For those seeking to file a complaint or obtain further information, the Consumer Protection Team can be reached at the contact details provided by the Attorney General's office.