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The Michigan Department of Attorney General utilizes the services of Special Assistant Attorneys General from time to time when the unique circumstances of a particular case create the need for specialized services not currently available within the department.
The Michigan Attorney General has determined that a full and complete investigation of what happened within the Catholic Church is required. This investigation is and will continue to be independent, thorough, transparent, and prompt. My department and this investigation will find out who knew what, and when.
The Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) investigates claims of innocence to determine whether there is clear and convincing new evidence that the convicted defendant was not the person who committed the offense.
In Michigan, a victim is an individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.
Elder abuse happens when someone hurts, ignores, or takes advantage of an older adult. This may be someone who is of advanced age or is vulnerable and unable to protect themselves due to a mental or physical issues.
An expungement is a way to remove past offenses from your public record. Expansions under the “Clean Slate” laws include eligibility for up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors, excluding certain assault or weapons offenses and felonies that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
To investigate and prosecute hate crimes by following up on every credible tip and offer departmental resources to assist local and federal law enforcement partners in this effort.
The Michigan Attorney General is leading the fight against this horrific crime by prosecuting the state's first-ever criminal cases under state law banning human trafficking in Michigan. Victims of human trafficking are in bondage through force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation.
Knowing how to guard your personal information is your first line of defense against identity theft.
Michigan workers enjoy a wide variety of legal protections regarding issues at work. There are a number of state and federal statutes that protect their wages, safety, and well-being.
Opioid addiction knows no social or economic barriers; it doesn’t care about race or gender. It claims young and old alike. The Michigan Department of Attorney General is committed to fighting this crisis.
Michigan Attorney General's robocall initiative is leading several efforts to protect Michigan residents from the billion plus robocalls made to them every year.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, provides that requesters can receive copies or make inspections of most public records of public bodies upon written request.
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February 13, 2026
LANSING – Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing her consumer alert on investment romance scams. Attorney General Nessel and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes exposed the dangers of the scam in an episode of Pantsuits and Lawsuits last year.
“Investment romance scams are prevalent and cost victims billions of dollars worldwide,” said Attorney General Nessel. “This Valentine’s Day, don’t let scammers exploit your trust by luring you into so-called investment opportunities that are designed to steal your money. Never invest through an unverified website or with someone you’ve only met through social media. Remember, if an opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Investment romance scams, or “pig butchering” scams, are predominately executed by a sophisticated criminal enterprise, finding potential targets on social media sites and through mass text messages. It can start with a perpetrator creating a fake profile used to reach out to those seeking companionship often through social media, WhatsApp, Tinder or other dating sites, and even random texts, masquerading as an incorrect number or an old acquaintance. The goal is to initiate a cordial discussion with the recipient, attempting to be their “new friend” or “romantic partner.”
The new friend creates reasons to continue a conversation, which leads to multiple calls. They slowly develop a relationship so they can insert themselves into their target’s daily life. While building trust through ongoing conversations, they slowly introduce the idea of making a business investment using cryptocurrency. The new friend employs persuasion rather than requesting money outright because they are aware that individuals are savvy and know that being asked for money by a stranger is a sign of a scam. The victim is gradually drawn into what appears to be benign talk about cryptocurrency investments and earnings, but they are really being manipulated to make an investment.
The new friend slowly convinces the target to invest in cryptocurrency and refers them to a bogus website or app that looks authentic but is controlled by the scammer. The victims are encouraged to invest small amounts in the beginning and the scammer may post a modest gain on the investment. They may even allow the victim to withdraw money once or twice to convince them the process is legitimate.
The victim is then persuaded to invest larger amounts on the fake platform, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars. Once the money is sent to the fake investment app, sometimes the scammer vanishes, taking all the money with them. Other times, the scammer claims that the victim must pay exorbitant, and fake, fees and taxes before being able to withdraw their money. Either way, the end result is the same – significant losses for the victim.
While this type of investment scam often uses romance as a tactic, scammers can also build other types of personal or professional relationships. They are experts who are trained to manipulate their targets, making it easy for someone to fall prey to this scam.
Investment romance scam red flags include:
To protect yourself from investment romance scams:
If you believe you are a victim of this cryptocurrency scam, quickly report the crime to your bank, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Internet Crime Center (IC3), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) local office, your local police, and the Michigan Department of Attorney General. The longer you wait, the harder it is to trace or freeze stolen funds.
To file a complaint with the Department of Attorney General, contact:
Consumer Protection Team
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388
Online complaint form
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