Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning the public about an automated text scam related to the State’s Food Assistance Program.
Nessel says that any individuals that receive the text should immediately contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
MDHHS sends texts from a 517 or 800 area code, refers people to Michigan.gov websites, and doesn’t use terms such as “food stamps.”
MDHHS does not use text messages to notify people they are eligible for benefits.
Here are important reminders to help protect against similar scams:
- Don’t assume a text is legitimate because it comes from a familiar phone number or area code. Scammers use caller ID spoofing to make it appear the text is from a trusted or local source.
- Don’t click on links in suspicious text; they could install malware on your device or take you to a site that does the same.
- Don’t provide personal or financial information in response to the unsolicited text or at a website linked to the message.
- Don’t reply, even if the message says you can “text STOP” to avoid more messages. That tells the scammer or spammer your number is active and can be sold to other bad actors.
Anybody who is a AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint or Bell subscriber, can report spam or smishing texts to their carrier by copying the original text and forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM), free of charge.
Or residents can file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission by visiting .
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