Consumer Protection

T-Mobile reports that the breach happened between November 25, 2022 and January 5, 2023 and may have exposed information including names, billing addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, T-Mobile account number, number of lines on the account and service plan features. T-Mobile believes that no passwords, payment card information, social security numbers or other financial account information was accessed. The impact of this breach is currently undetermined.

Consumers should remain vigilant for suspicious emails, texts, or phone calls in the wake of this data breach.

Cryptocurrency is a form of digital cash or currency, which allows users to transact directly with each other without needing banks or governmental regulations. 

• They are risky and unpredictable assets;
• Prices have fallen by 72% from their peak a year ago; and
• The collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX trapped over a billion dollars of customer money.

To learn more about cryptocurrencies and the additional risks of using a cryptocurrency exchange for your investments, read the following Michigan Attorney General consumer alerts: 

• Cryptocurrency! What is it? What are the risks?
• What is a cryptocurrency exchange? Is it safe?

On December 15, 2022, Hope College reported a massive data breach to the Michigan Attorney General’s office, after they discovered an unauthorized party has gained access to their confidential files. In addition to full names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, driver's license and student identification numbers may have been compromised. 

For more information on what to do following a data breach, review the Attorney General alert Data Breaches: What to do Next. 

It’s a fast-growing trend of online middlemen who keep the difference between the wholesale and retail price and cost you extra money. And while drop-shipping is not illegal, there is a lot of room for problems and abuse for buyers and sellers.

The Shopping Reform and Modernization Act ("Scanner Law"), became effective September 1, 2011. This legislation replaces the former Pricing and Advertising of Consumer Items Act ("Item Pricing Act"). 

The Lemon Law applies to passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and vans that are purchased or leased in Michigan or purchased or leased by a Michigan resident (regardless of whether the vehicle was purchased or leased in Michigan) and covered by a manufacturer’s express warranty at the time of purchase or lease.

The Lemon Law does not apply to motor homes, buses, trucks other than pickups and vans, motorcycles, or off-road vehicles.

If you believe that your vehicle has been unlawfully towed or that you were charged unreasonable towing or storage fees, Michigan law limits where and when you may challenge such actions. This Consumer Alert explains the process you must follow to get your vehicle back and to complain about unlawful towing and unreasonable fees.

"Multi-level" or "network" marketing is a form of business that uses independent representatives to sell products or services to family, friends, and acquaintances.  A representative earns commissions from retail sales he or she makes, and also from retail sales made by other people that he or she recruits.

Smishing is when scammers send text messages pretending to be from trusted sources. The goal is to get targets to respond with personal information like passwords and credit card details or to click on links that install malware. It is just like phishing that uses emails; instead smishing uses texts.

Consumers are asking questions about gas prices. The following alert addresses commonly asked questions and discusses the role of the Michigan Department of Attorney General in investigating gas pricing issues.

Perhaps because so many large retailers voluntarily allow consumers to return merchandise with no questions asked, many consumers assume that they have a right to cancel a contract or to ask a retailer to take back an item and refund the consumer's money. As a general matter of contract law, consumers do not have a right to cancel a sale of goods or services.