Scam artists have long made off with your money by pretending to be somebody else. Now, they’re pretending to be you.
According to federal data, identity theft in 2022 became the most prevalent form of fraud reported in Michigan, replacing impostor scams.
The Federal Trade Commission says Michigan consumers filed nearly 22,000 reports of ID theft in 2022. Nationwide, ID theft is also the top category, making up 21.5 percent of reports in 2022 — more than 1.1 million for the year, the data shows.
“It’s a 24/7 operation and you don’t have to leave your house to become a victim,” says AARP Michigan Associate State Director for Outreach Brenda Price. AARP plans to host an event with the FBI in April to help consumers avoid scams.