Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has initiated legal action against Donald Peltier from South Hadley, Massachusetts. The lawsuit accuses Peltier of operating fraudulent websites that purported to be affiliated with the Democratic and Republican parties. These sites, named “democraticnationalcommittee.co,” “maf.democrat,” and “republicannationalcommittee.org,” allegedly solicited donations under false pretenses.
Nessel emphasized the importance of vigilance when donating to political causes. "Donating to a cause or candidate you believe in can be gratifying, but it’s important to be vigilant against scams," she stated. She warned that deceptive practices such as fraudulent websites are often used by bad actors to exploit donors' enthusiasm and urged individuals to research organizations before making donations.
For Michigan residents interested in contributing to political entities like parties, campaigns, or Political Action Committees (PACs), several precautions were advised:
- Be proactive in seeking out causes or campaigns rather than responding to unsolicited requests.
- Avoid relying solely on names since scammers often create official-sounding names.
- Conduct thorough research as federal PACs must register with the Federal Trade Commission (FEC).
- Be cautious of scam PACs that may target seniors.
- Remain wary of phone calls and texts soliciting donations.
- Cross-reference information by visiting the PAC's website and verifying legitimacy through independent sources.
Residents who suspect they have been approached by or contributed to a scam PAC are encouraged to report these incidents to the FBI, FEC, and the Department of Attorney General. Complaints can be filed with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team via mail at P.O. Box 30213 Lansing, MI 48909, by phone at 517-335-7599 or toll-free at 877-765-8388, fax at 517-241-3771, or through an online complaint form.