LANSING — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has ordered a Texas company to stop operating two websites accused of misleading people buying tickets to Mackinac Island attractions or face a lawsuit and civil fines.
According to a Sept. 26 news release from the AG’s office, Nessel’s office issued a cease and desist notice to MTVRS, LLC, saying the company is violating the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. The notice warns MTVRS to remove or change the sites by Oct. 6 or risk an injunction and penalties.
According to the notice, the website fortmackinactickets.com mimics the official site that sells Fort Mackinac tickets, which are offered by a governmental agency on mackinacparks.com.
The MTVRS site allegedly uses a misleading logo and charges higher prices. While it contains a disclosure that it is not affiliated with the Fort, the disclaimer appears far down the page after multiple chances to buy tickets and allegedly does not meet the law’s requirements.
A second site, mackinacticketing.com, allegedly misleads customers seeking ferry tickets by copying Shepler’s Ferry schedule information and address, creating the impression that tickets are purchased from sheplersferry.com.
The notice contends that MTVRS adds a $7.95 fee and then uses the customer’s payment to buy tickets directly from Shepler’s site.
Operators of Fort Mackinac and Shepler’s Ferry have reported multiple incidents of visitors arriving with only an email from MTVRS, which is not valid for entry.
“Mackinac Island welcomes more than a million visitors each year, and they deserve to know that the tickets they purchase online will get them onto the ferry and into popular attractions,” Nessel said. “My office remains committed to pursuing bad actors who attempt to take advantage of Michigan residents and visitors.”