As auto insurance companies continue to distribute $400 per-vehicle refunds to Michigan customers, Attorney General Dana Nessel has warned policyholders to be wary of scams.
"These refund checks come at a time when many Michiganders have faced financial hardships, and I appreciate the bipartisan work done to achieve this win for drivers," Nessel said in a statement.
The attorney general warned of impersonation scams, wherein bad actors may pretend to be with an insurance agency or government agency, and would attempt to contact unsuspecting consumers under the guise of discussing their refund.
“Unfortunately, these refunds will likely attract bad actors who will turn this surplus into a scam. Remember, these are automatic payments back into your account. No one will call, write or email you for information prior to disbursing the money,” the attorney general said.
Nessel also advised any consumers who are contacted by someone claiming to need personal information before they can hand over the refund to remain skeptical and report the individual to the AG’s Consumer Protection Team.
The $400 refund was made possible thanks to a $3 billion surplus from the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association. That amount was transferred to auto insurers earlier this month, to be distributed back to consumers.
Read more: Auto insurers to begin issuing $400 refunds
"Our bipartisan auto insurance reform will soon put $400 per vehicle back in the pockets of Michigan drivers," said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "The refund checks will be automatically deposited into your bank account or mailed to your home, and I appreciate Attorney General Nessel for her leadership as we protect Michiganders against potential scammers.”
"Any time there's a widespread distribution of money to consumers, criminals will try to take advantage, but DIFS and the Attorney General's office remain committed to protecting Michigan consumers," added Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) director Anita Fox.
