Several county offices and departments have been notified that scammers are targeting the community posing as a representative of Macomb County. To protect our residents from fraud, the following information is being provided. Please stay informed, alert and cautious.
Scams are on the rise, and fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to trick people out of their money and personal information. Whether it’s through phone calls, emails, text messages or social media, these scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics.
Common types of scams
- Impersonation scams: Scammers pose as government officials, law enforcement or utility companies. They may claim you owe money or that you’re in legal trouble to scare you into paying.
- Tech support scams: You receive a pop-up or a call saying there’s a problem with your computer. The scammer offers to fix it—if you pay or give remote access.
- Prize or lottery scams: You’re told you’ve won a prize, but you must pay fees or taxes upfront to claim it.
- Phishing: Fake emails or texts trick you into clicking malicious links or giving up sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
Red flags
- Requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or cash.
- Pressure to act quickly—scammers create urgency to prevent you from thinking it through.
- Caller ID spoofing—scammers can make it look like the call is coming from a trusted number.
- Poor grammar, unusual email addresses or suspicious-looking links in messages.
What you can do
- Hang up if a caller makes you feel threatened or demands immediate payment.
- Never give out personal information over the phone or by email unless you are sure of who you are speaking to.
- Verify independently—call the organization back using a number from their official website.
- Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
The best defense against scams is awareness. Share this information with friends and family, especially those who may be more vulnerable, like seniors. Staying educated is the first step in preventing fraud and protecting your identity and finances.