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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 15, 2026 |
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LANSING – Scammers may use various tactics to steal personal and financial information, especially during major events like the Detroit Auto Show. As a result, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging consumers to be on guard against scammers during the event.
“The Detroit Auto Show gives scammers an opportunity to steal your hard-earned money,” Nessel said. “By knowing the tactics fraudsters use to steal personal information, you can better protect yourself from these scams.”
Phishing emails and smishing texts, for example, may appear to be from legitimate sources like the Detroit Auto Show or the City of Detroit, containing links that lead to fake websites designed to steal login credentials, credit card details, or other sensitive information.
If consumers receive a suspicious email or text, they should:
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Not download any attachments in the message. Attachments may contain malware such as viruses, worms, or spyware.
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Not click links that appear in the message. Links in phishing messages direct consumers to fraudulent websites.
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Not reply to the sender. Ignore any requests from the sender and do not call any phone numbers provided in the message.
If consumers receive a suspicious phone call that seems to be a phishing attempt, they are advised to:
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Hang up or end the call. Area codes can be misleading. If their caller ID displays a local area code, this does not guarantee that the caller is local.
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Not respond to the caller’s requests. Legitimate companies will never call consumers to request personal information. Never give personal information to the incoming caller.
The Attorney General also advises attendees to be on the lookout for those attempting to steal their credit card information through ATMs by skimming and shimming.
Consumers can avoid becoming a victim by:
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Using cash whenever possible.
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Examining their bank/credit card statements often and looking for any unauthorized charges.
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Trying not to use stand-alone ATMs like those found in convenience stores. These machines are not as well-maintained or secure as bank ATMs.
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Covering the PIN pad with their hands as they type in their PIN. This may not prevent their card data from being collected and used at point-of-sale terminals, but it may prevent criminals from emptying their bank accounts since they do not have their PINs.
The Detroit Auto Show takes place until January 25 at Huntington Place in Detroit. Victims of credit card fraud should contact their local police department and then they can contact the Department of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team, which can be reached at:
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