Michigan housing agency, AG warn of scam offering fake housing vouchers

The state's housing agency and Attorney General's Office are warning residents to be on alert for a scam using the guise of housing vouchers to collect personal information.

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) said it is receiving reports of a group using its likeness, including its logo and "Michigan Housing Development Authority," to promote fake housing voucher programs on Facebook and in person. The entity is also using the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) name and fair housing logos on its flyers and in online ads, according to a Tuesday news release.

"This is fraudulent information, and individuals should NOT provide their personal information to folks through the provided links or contacts listed on these pages or documents," Lisa Kemmis, MSHDA rental assistance and homeless solutions director, said in the release.

Such posts target people who are already financially vulnerable. The federally funded housing choice voucher program helps low-income families pay for rent. Commonly known as Section 8, the program is widely regarded as a tool to help families land housing they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. People can apply for vouchers through local public housing agencies when waiting lists open up. And people who make the waitlist can spend months or even years waiting for a federal housing voucher.

Currently, there are no waiting lists that are open, according to MSHDA's website.

For information about the program and voucher availability, go to MSHDA's website at bit.ly/MSHDAHousingChoiceVoucher, email [email protected] or call MSHDA’s Lansing office at 517-241-0809.

“Bad actors will use any opportunity they can find to scam unsuspecting people — even going as far as to impersonate state and federal agencies," Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in the news release.

Those who believe they've fallen victim to a scam should file a police report and contact the attorney general's consumer protection team at P.O. Box 30213, Lansing, 48909, fax 517-335-7599, call 877-765-8388 or submit an online complaint form at bit.ly/MichiganConsumerComplaintForm.

Contact Nushrat Rahman: [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter: @NushratR.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan AG warns of scam using fake housing vouchers