“While the Holidays are known as the ‘Season of Giving,’ that doesn’t stop bad actors from attempting to steal your identity,” said Nessel. “I encourage every Michigan resident to take advantage of the free weekly credit report program. Staying alert is the best way to protect yourself so that you can take action quickly when fraud is suspected.”
Credit reports contain the financial and personal data used by businesses and potential creditors to assess an individual’s financial fitness for rentals, house and vehicle financing, insurance, or even a job. The approval of your application could be impacted by inaccurate information, and it benefits residents to be knowledgeable about what is in their credit report and affecting their overall credit score.
The free weekly credit report can be accessed from Annual Credit Report’s website, the only official site for free credit reports authorized by federal law. Other sites offer free credit reports, though residents should exercise caution and watch for sites that have been spoofed, or fraudulent sites designed to steal your money or your personal information.
“My Consumer Protection Team stands ready to assist Michiganders who may have fallen victim to a scam, but our ultimate goal is to educate consumers and prevent it from happening in the first place,” Nessel said during the website launch. “By focusing on the user experience, we made the Consumer Protection site more accessible, simpler to navigate, and easier to read. We hope residents will bookmark the page on both their computers and phones so that the information they need to stay armed against bad actors is always right at their fingertips.”
In addition to a new look and logo, the website now includes:
- a new search tool to make finding consumer alerts and charities faster and easier;
- a page dedicated to common scams;
- the Michigan Identity Theft Support page and resources to detect and report identity theft for consumers and businesses alike; and
- educational videos from Attorney General Nessel, the Federal Trade Commission, and other trusted resources.
The Holiday Alerts are relevant all year long and the list is as follows:
To file a complaint with the Department of Attorney General, residents are encouraged to contact:
