Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing her consumer alert on recognizing scams





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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
October 15, 2025




*Media Contact:*
Danny Wimmer <[email protected]>






Attorney General Nessel Reissues Consumer Alert on Recognizing Scams Following Reports of ‘Prop Money’ Used in Facebook Marketplace Sales

*LANSING* – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reissuing her consumer alert on recognizing scams [ [link removed] ] after numerous social media reports surfaced of Michigan residents being paid with realistic “prop money” marked as “For Motion Picture Purposes” (JPG) [ [link removed] ] for items sold on Facebook Marketplace and similar platforms.  

While the Department of Attorney General has not yet received direct consumer complaints, it is aware of multiple reports involving sellers across Michigan. In these cases, the buyer typically meets the seller in person, presents the fake cash that appears genuine, and then blocks the seller immediately after the exchange.  

“Even experienced sellers can be fooled by realistic prop money,” Nessel said. “I urge Michiganders to slow down, verify cash carefully, and meet in safe locations when conducting online marketplace sales.” 

When conducting online marketplace transactions, sellers should protect themselves by: 


* Meeting buyers at the police station; 
* Inspecting each bill closely; and  
* Avoiding rushed transactions or buyers who pressure the seller to hurry. 

Scammers are creative, coming up with new and more effective ways to trick Michiganders. Most scams have common characteristics, including being: 


* Contacted out of the blue with an urgent request;  
* Pressured to act or respond immediately; 
* Urged to keep the call or transaction secret; 
* Asked for payment or to pay in an unusual form, including wire transfers (Western Union or MoneyGram), prop money, prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or store cards, and pay apps (Venmo, Zell, Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, etc.; and 
* Promised something too good to be true. 

Residents who expect they’ve been scammed should contact their local police department and file a complaint with the Department. Consumers may contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team at: 

Consumer Protection Team [ [link removed] ] 
P.O. Box 30213 
Lansing, MI 48909 
517-335-7599 
Fax: 517-241-3771 
Toll-free: 877-765-8388 
Online complaint form [ [link removed] ] 

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