Husband and wife looking at computer scared.

Data Shows Fraud Complaints on the Rise in Michigan

by Miles Morley, MiCAFE Community Partner Liaison The Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) has released their 2015 Data Book. CSN is a database of consumer identity theft and fraud complaints. The complaints are gathered from federal agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Internal Revenue Service, state law enforcement organizations, such as the Michigan Office of the Attorney General, and non-governmental … Continue reading Data Shows Fraud Complaints on the Rise in Michigan

Husband and wife standing in front of a house, smiling next to their new car with the driver door open.

An Unknowing Trap for Sellers of Motor Vehicles

by David Jones, J.D., Hotline Attorney It is all too common for sellers of used motor vehicles to simply sign the title over to the buyer, and assume the buyer will register it with the Secretary of State. However, if the buyer does not register the title, the seller can face some real legal problems because the seller is still the owner of title. I … Continue reading An Unknowing Trap for Sellers of Motor Vehicles

Money Bag with Dollar symbol, isolated on white

Banks and Lender Scams and Complaints

by Miles Morley, Legal Assistant This is part five of a recurring series on the most common types of fraud reported in the Consumer Sentinel Network’s 2014 Data Book for the State of Michigan. Banks and Lender Scams accounted for five percent of all complaints from Michigan Residents and a total of 3,566 complaints in the Consumer Sentinel Network’s 2014 Data Book. These types of scams … Continue reading Banks and Lender Scams and Complaints

Protect Yourself from Telephone and Mobile Service Scams

by Miles Morley, Legal Assistant This post is a continuation of series on fraud and protecting yourself from scams. Part one can be found here and part two can be found here.  Telephone and mobile service fraud was the second most common category for Michigan residents in the Consumer Sentinel Network’s 2014 data book. CSN defined telephone and mobile service fraud as “[c]omplaints about advertising … Continue reading Protect Yourself from Telephone and Mobile Service Scams

Protecting Yourself from Debt Collection Fraud

by Miles Morley, Legal Assistant I recently wrote about the Consumer Sentinel Network’s 2014 data book for reported instances of fraud. As a follow up, I am taking a closer look at each of the top ten types of fraud complaints in Michigan. The top instance of fraud reported in Michigan was titled “debt collection.” This category represented 14,284 complaints, or nineteen percent of complaints … Continue reading Protecting Yourself from Debt Collection Fraud

Consumer Sentinel Network Releases Fraud Report

by Miles Morley, Legal Assistant The Consumer Sentinel Network (CSN) has recently published the 2014 version of their annual data book for fraud and identity theft. CSN is a secure online database of millions of consumer complaints that are available only to law enforcement. CSN includes reports received by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and … Continue reading Consumer Sentinel Network Releases Fraud Report

Elder Law of Michigan Speaks Up on Behalf of Older Crime Victims

by Ron Tatro, Vice President & COO Each year the Michigan Department of Corrections spends more than 2 billion dollars housing and management over 40,000 inmates. The Michigan Law Revision Commission and The Council of State Governments have spent the past year studying the Corrections system. This review has included how different parts of society is impacted and to what degree. Elder Law of Michigan … Continue reading Elder Law of Michigan Speaks Up on Behalf of Older Crime Victims