AG Nessel Issues Video Outlining Potential Punishments for Making School Threats

Agency: Attorney General

Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746
Public inquiries: 517-335-7622

January 4, 2022

LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issued a new video today that highlights the seriousness of making threats against schools. The Michigan Department of Education will be sharing the video with districts for additional awareness and distribution. 

"In recent weeks, threats of violence have been reported at schools across Michigan," Nessel says in the video. "Local law enforcement agencies have reported threats on social media that number in the hundreds within their own communities. As a result, kids in our state have missed valuable days of instruction as school administrators are forced to close buildings to keep kids safe. Whether these are real threats made by that intent on doing harm or pranks made by kids trying to get a day off, they are real crimes with real consequences." 

In the video, Nessel explains the potential charges one could face if they make a threat of violence, which include: 

• communicating a threat of terrorism, 20-year felony; 
• calling in a bomb threat, a four-year felony; 
• malicious use of a telecommunications device, a six-month misdemeanor; and 
• threatening violence against school employees or students, a one-year misdemeanor. 

"Threatening the lives of students and staff, whether with intent to harm or simply to disrupt, is an outrage, particularly in the wake of the tragedy in Oxford," State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said. "Our students and staff should feel safe in our schools, and anyone that threatens that safety should be subject to swift and significant consequences." 

The video can be viewed on the Department of Attorney General's YouTube page. 

MI AG's YouTube channel

If you receive a threat or know of a threat of violence against your community, please contact your local law enforcement.  

You can also leave a tip with the state's OK2SAY hotline by calling 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729) or texting 652729 (OK2SAY). The hotline operates 24/7 and protects the confidentiality of the reporter's identity. 

OK2SAY, which is housed within the Michigan State Police, provides for confidential reports of potential self-harm, harm to others, or criminal acts including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, assault, or rape, directed at students, school employees, or schools in this state.  

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Inspector General for the Social Security Administration "Newest Imposter Scam Tactic"

  

Inspector General Warns of Newest Imposter Scam Tactic

December 13, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gail S. Ennis, the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA), is advising the public about the latest development involving Social Security-related scams that use fraudulent SSA letterhead to feign legitimacy and gain trust to target individuals for money or personal information.

Scammers are using U.S. mail delivery to send fraudulent letters, advising the recipient to call a toll-free number to activate an increase in SSA benefits, such as a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The letters appear to be from an SSA official and are designed to look like real SSA letterhead; however, they are not from SSA.

Inspector General Ennis is reminding the public that the COLA is automatic for all SSA beneficiaries and does not require activation. Beneficiaries can view their COLA notice online through their personal my Social Security account at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.

Inspector General Ennis previously warned about scammers using the real names of SSA and OIG officials—many of which are publicly available on the Internet. Common tactics include scammers citing “badge numbers” of law enforcement officers, sending emails with attachments containing real personal information about a fake “investigation,” or phishing for personal information by texting links to click on and “learn more” about a Social Security-related problem.

Recognizing the signs of a scam can help you avoid falling victim to one. It’s a scam if someone:

• Threatens to suspend your Social Security number
• Warns of arrest or legal action
• Demands immediate payment
• Requires payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, Internet currency, or by mailing cash
• Pressures you for personal information (date of birth, SSN or bank account number)
• Requests secrecy
• Threatens to seize your bank account
• Promises to increase your Social Security benefit
• Tries to gain your trust by providing fake “documentation” or false “evidence”
• Makes demands and threats, or requests immediate action.

“Social Security will never threaten, scare, or pressure you to take immediate action,” Inspector General Ennis said. “If you receive a suspicious call, text message, email, or letter hang up immediately or ignore the message. Visit ssa.gov and contact SSA directly if you have an ongoing business to resolve.”

Inspector General Ennis also advises that if you owe money to Social Security, SSA will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. SSA will also send a letter to notify beneficiaries about the COLA; however, it is automatic and does not require activation.

Visit our website https://oig.ssa.gov to report Social Security-related scams. Our scam awareness page provides more information about scams and past alerts. Follow SSA OIG on Facebook and Twitter for the latest information. Please share this information with your friends and family to help protect them from Social Security-related scams.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected Social Security fraud to the OIG at https://oig.ssa.gov.