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Michigan NewsAnother scam in Michigan involving fake credit cards, Michigan State Police issues...

Another scam in Michigan involving fake credit cards, Michigan State Police issues statewide alert

Michigan – Michigan State Police officials are alerting local businesses about a scam involving stolen credit cards and scratch-off lottery tickets in what appears to be an alarming pattern across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Particularly in the form of scratch-off ticket purchases, the Michigan State Police (MSP) has noticed a notable increase in fraudulent activities aiming at the Michigan Lottery.

MSP authorities said the fraud is now more common on the Lower Peninsula as well as the Upper Peninsula. There are now investigations under progress; multiple complaints from the Escanaba area surface. Similar fraudulent conduct has also been documented in surrounding states including Nebraska and Wisconsin, suggesting a larger network of fraud activities.

The program presents a somewhat basic cover. Presenting themselves as regular consumers, scammers approach businesses and try to purchase significant numbers of lottery scratch-off tickets with credit card. These people sometimes wear face masks and might say that the swipe or chip features of the card are broken in order to avoid being discovered. Then they encourage staff members at stores to manually enter credit card information. The scammers quickly redeem any prizes from the tickets and flee before the theft becomes apparent once the transaction is completed.

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Unfortunately, many companies discover the theft only after the credit card has been reported stolen, thus suffering major losses. Tracking and capturing the offenders is especially difficult given the rapid nature of these transactions.

MSP has developed a set of rules for stores to help prevent against such scams in order to address this escalating problem. Stores are advised to be wary of customers purchasing large numbers of lottery tickets. Companies should also set purchase limits for lottery tickets and avoid manually handling card data. If any suspicions arise, it is imperative to confirm the validity of the card and make sure that all card payments go through regular electronic systems throughout transactions.

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MSP also advises every company to promptly notify law law enforcement any irregular or suspected purchase behavior. Retailers that follow these guidelines and remain alert may protect themselves against becoming victims of this unscrupulous fraud that compromises not only their income but also the integrity of the Michigan Lottery system.