• Voter Registration - Recent Scams Target Prospective Voters 9/2008

• A Consumer Guide to Buying Tickets Online 9/2008

• Do Not Fax Me! A Way To Stop Unwanted Advertisements 8/2008

• Michigan's Lemon Law - Avoid Getting Stuck with A Lemon - 7/2008

• Fireworks: Don't Get Burned! 6/2008

• Reduce Your Junk Mail 6/2008

• Mystery Shopper Counterfeit Check Scam 6/2008

• Avoid Auction Scams - Know The Facts Before You Bid 5/2008
Public interest in live and online auctions has grown.  More and more people are turning to auctions to purchase anything from household goods to real estate.  While these auctions may be a good way to ...

• Selling Precious Metals 5/2008

• Cell Phone Spam - Stop Receiving Unwanted Text Messages! 4/2008
More than one billion text messages are sent everyday in the United States and studies show that more and more of those messages are spam, or unwanted, unsolicited junk mail, delivered to the consumer's ...

• Tax Rebate Scams 4/2008

• Increased Gas Prices? Again? Updated--3/2008

• Propane Gas - Understand Pricing Options and How to Lower Your Heating Costs 3/2008

• Item Pricing (Scanner Law) Frequently Asked Question 3/2008
Consumer or Business Alerts published by the Attorney General are provided as an information service only and are not a formal or informal legal opinion or legal advice.? Citizens who need legal advice ...

• IRS Tax Scams 3/2008

• Free Annual Credit Reports-What Consumers Should Know--Updated 3/2008

• Credit Reports, Free Review and Repair 3/2008

• Cosigning a loan? Know the risks! 3/2008
When you cosign a loan for someone, you are helping him obtain a loan that he would not be able to get on his own. You are also taking a risk that a professional lender will not take. The lender would ...

• Business Sudden Closure 2/2008
Consumers need to act quickly to protect their rights and to help the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division investigate, and hopefully resolve, disputes that arise when a business suddenly ...

• Conversion to Digital Television - Stay Informed and Stay Connected 2/2008
Television plays a major role in all of our lives. For most people, it is the primary source of information and connection to the rest of the world. On February 17, 2009, most broadcasters must stop ...

• Dating Services 2/2008
Complaints against matchmaking and online dating services are on the rise and many consumers looking for love find heartache and financial disappointment.  The tips immediately below apply to all types ...

• Security Freeze Information for Michigan Consumers 12/2007

• 'Tis The Season for Wise Charitable Giving 12/2007
This is the time of year when generous Michigan citizens are asked to give time, money, or goods to charities that do important work in our communities. This work may include feeding and clothing the ...

• Car Donation Programs - Proceed with Caution 12/2007

• Gift Cards & Gift Certificates: Read the Fine Print 12/2007

• 'Tis The Season For Protecting Yourself When Making Purchases -- 2007 Update 11/2007
With the holiday shopping season about to kick in to high gear, it's time to make your list, check it twice, and head to the store or turn on the computer to purchase gifts.  While this time of the year ...

• Home Lending and Foreclosure Rescue Scams
Updated 11/2007
Home lending and foreclosure rescue scams continue to victimize consumers across the nation. Attorney General Mike Cox responds by taking action against foreclosure rescue scam artists and proactively ...

• Identity Theft: Deceased Victims 11/2007
There is no greater tragedy than the loss of a loved one.  This time can be emotionally draining -- between making arrangements and grieving, most people cannot bring themselves to contemplate that their ...

• Telemarketing Fraud - Never Give Personal Information to Unknown Callers - 2007 Update 10/2007

• Nigerian and Counterfeit Cashier's Check Scam - Update 9/2007
Nigerian and Counterfeit Cashier's Check Scam - Update 9/2007

• Internet Safety and Children 8/2007

• Building and Remodeling - Advice for Homeowners 6/2007

• Payday Loan - Know Your Rights and Decide If One Is Right for You 6/2007
Payday loan, cash advance, or check advance loan are commonly used phrases to describe what Michigan law refers to as a "deferred presentment service transaction." For the purposes of this Consumer ...

• Are You Paying Too Much For Your Prescription Drugs? Shop Around and Find Out! 5/2007

• Health Club Membership: Lose Weight, Not Money 1/2007
During 2005 and 2006 the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division received 212 complaints from consumers about fitness centers.  The majority of the complaints involved discrepancies ...

• Internet Phone Service ("VOIP"): Will You Be Able To Reach 9-1-1 In An Emergency? 12/2006
A new kind of phone service heavily advertised in Michigan offers inexpensive "Voice Over the Internet" telephone calling, also known as "VoIP." VoIP technology allows you to make telephone calls using ...

• Fraudulent E-mail Thieves Intend to Steal Your Personal Information Updated 11/2006
Crooks unleash fraudulent e-mail scams at a ferocious pace. The email pretends to come from businesses the potential victims patronize -- for example, Internet service providers, online payment services, ...

• Identity Theft Information for Michigan Consumers - 2006 Update 10/2006
2006 Update- The factors that have spelled danger in the past continue to threaten the security and privacy of consumers' sensitive, personal information.

• Long-Term Rebate Programs 10/2006
Maybe you've been thinking about doing some work on your home. A new porch or sunroom perhaps? Or maybe a new hot tub? Or better yet, some energy-efficient windows? With energy costs so high, new ...

• Pharming - Yet Another Tool Used By Identity Thieves 9/2006
"Pharming" and "phishing" are a pair of favorite Internet devices used by criminals to cheat consumers out of their valuable personal information.  Pharming is an attack in which a computer user is ...

• A Job Offer Too Good To Be True 9/2006
Searching for a job is a difficult and time-consuming task.  A very popular way for Michigan consumers to search for jobs is through the use of job search Web sites, such as CareerBuilder.com, Monster.c ...

• Your Social Security Number 9/2006
With simple identifying information and your Social Security number, it is relatively easy for someone to fraudulently assume your identity and gain access to your bank account, credit accounts, utilities ...

• Advance-Fee Loan Scams 7/2006
Advance-fee loan or credit card scams are often targeted at people with bad credit.  The scam may start as a legitimate appearing Internet Web site offering online lending services or an ad in the ...

• Annuities - Are They the Right Investment for Me? 5/2006
ANNUITIES ? ARE THEY THE RIGHT INVESTMENT FOR ME?

• Talent Scouting Services 4/2006
Many parents dream of one day seeing their children on the big screen, in advertisements on television, or even across a billboard. Parents believe in their children and have an unconditional sense of ...

• Used Vehicle Buyers Watch For Flood Damage 12/2005

• Sony Music CDs Recalled - Identity Theft Risk Prompts Worldwide Exchange Program 11/2005
On November 15, 2005, Sony BMG announced that it will replace all copies of its music CDs containing a controversial copy protection program that automatically installs and creates an identity theft ...

• Business Opportunities 11/2005
These ads often also appear in the retail and sports section of the newspaper. The investments can be risky. Keep in mind that just because an ad appears in a reputable newspaper or magazine does not ...

• Lead and Children 10/2005
In response to questions regarding these products, Christian Brathwaite of Sears Holding Corporation,? Kmart's parent company, said the items were mislabeled and do not present a health risk.? Mr. ...

• Medicare Recipients Warned to Beware of Medicare Fraud and Identity Theft 10/2005

• Don't Be Taken In By Disaster Scams - Lessons Learned 8/2005
Citizens in our country are very generous when a disaster hits a city, a state, a region of our country, or another country. They see it as an opportunity to show how much they care for their fellow ...

• "Free" Medicine May Be Costly 8/2005
The Attorney General's Office has recently received information about companies and Web sites advertising assistance in obtaining free prescription medicine.? Reports indicate that the companies are ...

• Michigan's Children's Protection Registry - Dealing With Spam Sent To Minors 7/2005
A new Michigan law effective on July 1, 2005, seeks to provide protection against one type of undesirable electronic communication by allowing parents and other responsible adults to register children's ...

• "Consumer Rewards Network" Warning - Hang Up On "Free Shopping Spree" Telemarketers! 7/2005

• Telemarketing Fraud - Recent Medicare Prescription Drug Twist 6/2005
The Attorney General's office recently received several reports that telemarketers are targeting Michigan seniors with lies and half truths about Medicare. Reports indicate receipt of a call claiming t ...

• The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act - Federal Law Protections For Military Personnel On Active Duty 5/2005
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protects the civil rights of military personnel while they are on active duty.

• Find Out Whether State Farm Declared Your Used Motor Vehicle A "Total Loss" 3/2005
On January 10, 2005, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and other state Attorneys General entered into an agreement with State Farm Mutual Insurance Company (see press release announcing settlement at h ...

• Counterfeit Cashier's Check Scam 02/2005
Consumers from outside Michigan are receiving a mailed letter that purports to be from a Michigan business entity (at least two names are being used), informing recipients that they have won thousands ...

• Check 21: Federal Law Allows Elimination of Original Paper Check 09/2004
The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, a 2003 federal law popularly known as Check 21, will take effect on October 28, 2004. Check 21 supersedes all inconsistent federal and state laws. Under Check ...

• Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card 5/2004

• Are Small Businesses Protected Under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act? 05/2004
Are Small Businesses Protected Undert the Michigan Consumer Protection Act? The Answer is...Maybe, Sometimes.

• Small Businesses: Tips To Reduce ID Theft 5/2004
This alert provides suggestions for small businesses on collecting, handling, and disposing of sensitive information.

• Be Sure to Read Purchase Contracts; Beware of "Packing" 02/2004

• Sweepstakes -- "You May Already Be A Winner!" 02/2004
If you have a mailbox, you have almost certainly received letters with bold headlines like these. These letters are promotions for prize sweepstakes ? a kind of advertising that many people find ...

• Vehicle Warranties, Extended Service Plans, Recalls and Silent Warranties 02/2004
Many Michigan consumers will pay more for their next new car than they paid for their first home. Others will come close. It is important for consumers to know the extent to which the manufacturer's w ...

• Michigan's Anti-Spam Law 12/2003

• International Sweepstakes & Lottery Fraud 11/2003
A letter is circulating purporting to be from the El Gordo Sweepstakes Lottery Company in Madrid, Spain, informing recipients that they have won hundreds of thousands of dollars in the Spanish lottery. ...

• New Michigan Telemarketing Laws / DO-NOT-CALL LIST 7/2003
In December 2002, the Michigan legislature passed new laws that give consumers greater rights against telemarketers. To reduce the number of unwanted calls from telemarketers, Michigan has joined the ...

• Spam Reduction - Tips For Reducing Junk E-mail 12/2002
SPAM REDUCTION - TIPS FOR REDUCING JUNK E-MAIL

• Magnetic Mattress Nightmares 9/2002
A postcard arrives promising the best night?s sleep you ever had, a cure for nearly all your medical ailments and a free dinner to boot. What could possibly provide all these wonderful things? According ...

• The Joe Gagnon Appliance Repair Act 7/2002
Thanks to Joe Gagnon, Michigan's "Appliance Doctor," and the legislature, Michigan residents now enjoy more protection when it comes to home appliance repair, service and maintenance. Effective June 21, ...

• Business Opportunities
Are you looking in the classified advertisement section for a business opportunity? Have you received an invitation to a local seminar? Often you can recognize business opportunity offerings by these ...

• Don't Throw Away Your Right To Financial Privacy 7/2001