Consumer Alert: Michigan AG Warns Of Robocall Scam

LANSING, MI – If you get a call from someone saying you're going to be arrested unless you pay up fees, don't fret. You're probably not going to jail – and you probably don't owe overdue fees.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette on Thursday issued a consumer alert, warning residents of the scam that is coming from "robocallers," those annoying automated telemarketers. In the recent scam, Schuette's office says that people are threatened with arrest unless they pay overdue fees.

“The easiest step to take if you get a suspicious or threatening call: hang up," Schuette said in a statement. "Neither the state of Michigan nor the federal government will ever threaten you via phone.”

If you get such a call, Schuette's office recommends that you do not call back or provide any personal information, including bank or credit card account numbers, unless you’ve initiated the call or you know it is reliable."

Here is the text of such a call:

“From the headquarters which will get expired in next 24 working hours. And once it get expired after that you will be taken under custody by the local cops as there are four serious allegations pressed on your name at this moment. We request you to get back to us so that we can discuss this case before taking any legal action against you.”

Typically, the bogus threats come from callers who try to instill panic and urgency to get the person to react and share personal information, Schuette's office said. Callers sometime have broken English or poor grammar because they typically come from foreign countries. The worst area codes from where the calls originate are: (202); (469); (312); (817); (832); (210); (281); (909) and (214).

You can also report the calls to the Federal Trade Commission.

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