Scammers often target major events to steal personal and financial information, and the Detroit Auto Show is no exception. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a warning to consumers attending the event to remain vigilant against potential scams.
"No one is immune from common scams like phishing and skimming, and events like the Detroit Auto Show give scammers another opportunity to steal your hard-earned money," said Nessel. "By knowing the various tactics used to steal personal information and financial data, you can help protect yourself from these schemes."
Phishing emails and smishing texts are among the methods scammers may use. These messages might appear legitimate, seemingly from entities like the Detroit Auto Show or the City of Detroit, but they contain links leading to fraudulent websites designed to capture sensitive information.
Consumers are advised not to download attachments or click on links in suspicious messages, as these could lead to malware or fraudulent sites. Instead, any suspected phishing emails should be forwarded to the Anti-Phishing Working Group. Smishing texts should be sent to SPAM (7726) before reporting them to the FTC.
For suspicious phone calls that appear as phishing attempts, consumers should hang up immediately without responding. Area codes displayed on caller ID can be misleading; a local area code does not guarantee a local caller.
The Attorney General also cautions attendees about credit card information theft through ATMs by skimming and shimming devices. To mitigate this risk, consumers are encouraged to use cash when possible, frequently check their bank statements for unauthorized charges, avoid using stand-alone ATMs in convenience stores, and cover PIN pads when entering their PINs.
The Detroit Auto Show runs until January 20 at Huntington Place in Detroit. Victims of credit card fraud should contact their local police department first and then reach out to the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team for assistance.
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
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