Mississippi Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Your Right to Sue (2026)

Mississippi's consumer protection law gives scam victims only a limited right to sue. Under the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act, only a person who bought or leased goods or services primarily for personal, family or household purposes, and lost money or property because the seller, lessor, manufacturer or producer used a prohibited practice, can sue, and the law lets that person recover the loss itself: no triple damages, no attorney's fees for the winning plaintiff, no class actions, and a required first attempt at an informal dispute program approved by the Attorney General.

Where Mississippi stands out is crypto ATMs. Since July 1, 2026, a state law caps how much a crypto kiosk can take in a day, holds a new customer's first deposit for 96 hours, and requires a full refund of a new customer's first two weeks of transactions when the customer was defrauded and acts within the law's deadlines. Complaints about scams go to the Attorney General's online form, and complaints about kiosks and other money transmitters go to the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance.

Information last verified on October 2, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This guide covers Mississippi state law: the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act (Miss. Code Title 75, Chapter 24), Mississippi complaint offices, the Vulnerable Persons Act, the 2020 bank-hold law, the 2026 virtual currency kiosk law, and Mississippi court rules for suing. Federal refund and reporting rights are summarized briefly and covered in depth on our national guides. Out of scope: criminal defense, and the law of other states (if the scammer or business is elsewhere, that state's law may also matter).

First steps if you were scammed in Mississippi

Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, wire company, crypto exchange or kiosk operator that moved your money right away; that company is usually the only one that can stop or reverse a payment. Your federal rights depend on how you paid. Our guide on how to get money back after a scam walks through each payment method, and the Zelle and payment app guide covers app transfers.

Then report it. Most scams go to the FTC and online crime to the FBI's IC3; our where to report a scam guide lists the federal channels. The Mississippi offices below are in addition to those, not instead of them. For an overview of every scam type, start at the scams and fraud hub.

Where to report a scam in Mississippi

The Attorney General's office describes its Consumer Protection Division as protecting Mississippians "from unfair, anticompetitive, and deceptive business practices," and its complaint form asks for the company's name, the product and the amount paid. The office does not promise a refund, and this guide found no statement that filing the form meets the informal dispute requirement for a lawsuit (see below).

The banking department has its own expectations. Its complaint page says, "The DBCF recommends that you attempt to resolve your complaint with your financial institution first," and also, "We cannot act as a court of law or as a lawyer on your behalf." Submit the complaint online once; the page asks you not to also send it by email, fax or mail.

Mississippi's consumer protection law: can you sue?

Sometimes, and only for a defined group of buyers. Section 75-24-15(1) sets out who can sue:

"any person who purchases or leases goods or services primarily for personal, family or household purposes and thereby suffers any ascertainable loss of money or property, real or personal, as a result of the use or employment by the seller, lessor, manufacturer or producer of a method, act or practice prohibited by Section 75-24-5 may bring an action at law ... to recover such loss of money or damages for the loss of such property"

Three conditions come out of those words. You must have purchased or leased goods or services, mainly for personal, family or household use. You must have lost money or property as a result. And the practice must have been used by the seller, lessor, manufacturer or producer. A victim who never bought anything, for example someone who paid an impostor posing as a government agency, may not fit that wording; this guide did not find a Mississippi court decision on the point, so ask a Mississippi lawyer how it applies to your facts.

Which practices count

Section 75-24-5(1) bans "unfair or deceptive trade practices in or affecting commerce," but adds: "Action may be brought under Section 75-24-5(1) only under the provisions of Section 75-24-9." Section 75-24-9 is the Attorney General's injunction action. So the general ban, as written, is enforced by the Attorney General, and subsection (2) of section 75-24-5 lists specific prohibited practices. Examples on that list include misrepresenting "the source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or services," misrepresenting "affiliation, connection, or association with, or certification by another," and "Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised."

What you can recover

The section allows recovery of the "loss of money" or "damages for the loss of such property." It does not provide a multiplier, punitive damages or a minimum dollar award, and it gives no attorney's fees to a winning plaintiff. Fees run only one way, under section 75-24-15(3): a prevailing defendant may recover costs and a reasonable attorney's fee "if in the opinion of the court, said action or counterclaim was frivolous or filed for the purpose of harassment or delay."

The informal dispute requirement

Section 75-24-15(2) adds a step before suit:

"In any private action brought under this chapter, the plaintiff must have first made a reasonable attempt to resolve any claim through an informal dispute settlement program approved by the Attorney General."

This guide could not identify which program the Attorney General has approved for this purpose, and we do not know whether a complaint through the Attorney General's online form satisfies it. Ask the Attorney General's office or a Mississippi lawyer before relying on any program.

No class actions

Section 75-24-15(4) states: "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit any class action or suit, but every private action must be maintained in the name of and for the sole use and benefit of the individual person." Each victim has to bring an individual claim.

The deadline

Section 75-24-15 does not set its own deadline to sue. See the "Suing a scammer or a business" section below and our Mississippi statute of limitations guide, and confirm the period that applies to your claim with a lawyer.

The honest limit

Any lawsuit needs a defendant you can identify, serve and collect from. That can work against a Mississippi business or contractor with a real address. It usually does not work against an anonymous scammer who called from a spoofed number or disappeared with crypto, and a judgment is worth little if nobody can be found to pay it. Our guide on when a lawyer helps after a scam covers how to tell the difference.

Protections for older and vulnerable adults in Mississippi

Exploitation is a crime. Under the Vulnerable Persons Act, Miss. Code section 43-47-19(1), "It shall be unlawful for any person to abuse, neglect or exploit any vulnerable person." Willful exploitation worth less than $250 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or up to one year in the county jail; exploitation worth $250 or more is a felony punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years. The law reaches "any person," not only caregivers or family members.

Age alone does not make someone a "vulnerable person." Section 43-47-5 defines the term as a person "whose ability to perform the normal activities of daily living or to provide for his or her own care or protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation or improper sexual contact is impaired due to a mental, emotional, physical or developmental disability or dysfunction, or brain damage or the infirmities of aging." Exploitation includes "the illegal or improper use of a vulnerable person or his resources for another's profit, advantage or unjust enrichment, with or without the consent of the vulnerable person," and a single incident counts.

Reporting is mandatory. Section 43-47-7 requires anyone who "knows or suspects that a vulnerable person has been or is being abused, neglected or exploited" to "immediately report such knowledge or suspicion to the Department of Human Services." The listed reporters include financial advisors, insurance agents and "any officer or employee of a bank, savings and loan, credit union or any other financial service provider." Call the Vulnerable Person Abuse Hotline at 844-437-6282 or use the Adult Protective Services online form.

Banks and credit unions may pause a transaction. House Bill 940 (Laws 2020, chapter 415), in effect since July 1, 2020, covers an "eligible person," defined as "a vulnerable person, or any person age sixty-five (65) years or older." If a bank or credit union officer or branch manager "believes in good faith that a requested transaction of any kind may result in, or be the result of, exploitation of an eligible person," the institution "may delay the completion or execution of the transaction for a period of time not to exceed ten (10) calendar days." The Department of Human Services or law enforcement can ask for up to 10 more business days, and a court can extend or end the delay. The institution must promptly notify the Department of Human Services when it delays a transaction. The power is optional: the act says the institution has "no duty to act." If you are worried about a parent's account, telling the bank directly that you suspect a scam gives it the information it needs to consider a delay.

Securities firms have a similar power. Under Miss. Code section 75-71-413, a broker-dealer or investment adviser that reasonably believes a transaction may result in financial exploitation of its customer may delay it for up to 15 business days, must notify the Securities Administrator within two business days, and may extend the delay by 10 days at the administrator's request.

For fraud against anyone 60 or older, the federal DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) can also help you report. Our elder fraud guide covers the federal side.

Mississippi scam laws on the books

Crypto ATMs: the Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act

House Bill 1625 (Laws 2026, chapter 464), the "Mississippi Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act," was approved by the Governor on April 8, 2026 and took effect July 1, 2026. Kiosk operators must hold a license under Mississippi's Money Transmission Modernization Act, and the law sets these rules:

• Daily limits (section 7). An operator "shall not accept transactions of more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per day" for new customers and $7,500 per day for existing customers. A new customer's total is also capped at $5,000 in the 14 days after their first kiosk transaction. A "new customer" is someone who has never transacted with that operator before, and stays new for 14 days after the first transaction.
• A 96-hour hold (section 7). The operator must hold a new customer's first transaction "for a period of ninety-six (96) hours before completing the transaction," and must refund the full amount if the customer asks within that 96 hours.
• A fraud refund for new customers (section 8). The operator must refund a new customer "for the full amount of all transactions made within the fourteen-day new customer time period" if the customer was fraudulently induced to make them, contacted both the operator and a government or law enforcement agency within 90 days of the last transaction in that 14-day period, and submitted proof of the fraud, "such as a police report or sworn declaration." This refund rule covers new customers only; transactions after the 14-day window are not covered by it.
• A written warning (section 5). Before a transaction, the kiosk must show a bold warning that begins "WARNING: CONSUMER FRAUD OFTEN STARTS WITH CONTACT FROM A STRANGER WHO IS INITIATING A DISHONEST SCHEME" and states "FUNDS LOST DUE TO USER ERROR OR FRAUD MAY NOT BE RECOVERABLE."
• Customers 60 and older (section 8). Before a new elder customer's first transaction, a representative of the operator must speak with them in a live phone call, and a transaction is halted and voided if the elder customer is on the phone or using a headset.
• A receipt (section 6) that includes the operator's contact information, its refund policy, and the name and telephone number of the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Under section 9, operators must report complaints and refund requests to the department within 72 hours.

Scam screening questions must be in place by January 1, 2027. Under section 5, by that date at the latest, before accepting funds, a kiosk must ask every customer on screen for the name of anyone who told them to use the machine and at least five random scam questions; an answer that signals a scam means "The transaction shall be declined and voided."

If you lost money at a crypto ATM, contact the kiosk operator using the number on your receipt, file a police report, and complain to the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. The department's commissioner can order a kiosk disabled or removed. Our crypto and investment scams guide covers the federal side.

Bitcoin Depot customers. In a July 1, 2026 consumer alert, the department said Bitcoin Depot Operating, LLC "filed for bankruptcy last month and has ceased operations," that it "did not hold a money transmission license" in Mississippi, but that Mississippi consumers "may still be impacted." The alert pointed affected customers to the bankruptcy case hotline at (844) 339-4117 and BitcoinDepotInfo@ra.kroll.com. Claim procedures in a bankruptcy can change; check the case information before relying on these details.

Door-to-door sales on credit

Under Miss. Code section 75-66-3, in a home solicitation sale "the buyer has the right to cancel a home solicitation sale until midnight of the third business day after the day at which the buyer signs an agreement," by written notice. The state law covers consumer credit sales of goods or services solicited in person at the buyer's home.

Suing a scammer or a business in Mississippi

Justice court. The 2025 published text of Miss. Code section 9-11-9 gives justice court judges jurisdiction over actions for debts, damages or personal property where the amount sought "shall not exceed Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500.00)." Confirm the current limit with the justice court before you file.

Deadlines. Section 75-24-15 has no deadline of its own, and this guide did not confirm which limitation period Mississippi courts apply to consumer protection or fraud claims. Mississippi's catch-all statute, section 15-1-49(1), says: "All actions for which no other period of limitation is prescribed shall be commenced within three (3) years next after the cause of such action accrued, and not after." Separately, section 15-1-67 delays the start of the clock when the defendant "shall fraudulently conceal the cause of action," until the fraud is discovered or reasonably could have been. That rule depends on concealment, not on every fraud. Our Mississippi statute of limitations guide covers other civil deadlines; do not wait to ask a lawyer about yours.

Who you can actually reach. Lawsuits work against people and businesses with a name, an address and assets. A scammer who hid behind a fake identity, a spoofed caller ID or an overseas account is usually not reachable through a Mississippi court. In those cases your payment company, a fast report to law enforcement, and protecting your identity are where your effort pays off. If the scammer has your personal details, see what to do when a scammer has your information and our Mississippi identity theft laws guide.

Related guides

• Scams and fraud: your rights and where to start
• How to get money back after a scam
• Where to report a scam
• Zelle and payment app scams
• Crypto and investment scams
• Elder fraud
• Phishing, smishing and vishing
• Mississippi identity theft laws
• Mississippi debt collection laws
• Mississippi statute of limitations

Last updated: October 2, 2026.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact your payment company, the Mississippi office named above, or a lawyer licensed in Mississippi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue a scammer in Mississippi?

Under the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act, only in limited cases: Miss. Code section 75-24-15 lets a person who bought or leased goods or services primarily for personal, family or household use sue the seller, lessor, manufacturer or producer for the money or property lost through a prohibited practice. That section says its remedy is in addition to other statutory and common law rights, so a Mississippi lawyer can tell you whether another claim fits your facts. An anonymous or overseas scammer is usually not reachable through a Mississippi court.

Does the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act award triple damages or attorney's fees?

No. Section 75-24-15 lets a qualifying buyer recover the loss of money or damages for lost property, with no multiplier and no fee award for the plaintiff. A defendant may recover fees if the court finds the suit frivolous or filed to harass or delay.

Do I have to do anything before suing under the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act?

Yes. Section 75-24-15(2) requires a reasonable attempt to resolve the claim through an informal dispute settlement program approved by the Attorney General. This guide could not identify which program qualifies, so ask the Attorney General's office or a lawyer.

Can I join a class action under the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act?

No. Section 75-24-15(4) says nothing in the chapter permits a class action; every private action must be brought by and for the individual person.

How do I report a scam in Mississippi?

Use the Attorney General's online consumer complaint form; the Consumer Protection Division says its consumer mediators can help. Complaints about crypto kiosks, money transmitters and state-chartered banks go to the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance online, or call 1-800-844-2499.

What are the crypto ATM limits in Mississippi?

Since July 1, 2026, a kiosk may accept no more than $1,000 a day from a new customer and $7,500 a day from an existing customer, must hold a new customer's first transaction for 96 hours, and must refund it on request within that time (HB 1625, Laws 2026, chapter 464).

Can I get a refund from a crypto ATM in Mississippi if I was scammed?

If you were a new customer, the operator must refund all transactions from your first 14 days if you were fraudulently induced, contacted both the operator and a government or law enforcement agency within 90 days of the last of those transactions, and submitted proof such as a police report or sworn declaration.

Who do I call if a vulnerable or elderly person in Mississippi is being scammed?

Call the Vulnerable Person Abuse Hotline at 844-437-6282 or use the Adult Protective Services online form. Section 43-47-7 requires anyone who knows or suspects exploitation of a vulnerable person to report it. The DOJ Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) helps with fraud against anyone 60 or older.

Can a Mississippi bank stop a transaction if it suspects elder fraud?

It may. Under HB 940 (Laws 2020, chapter 415), a bank or credit union that believes in good faith a transaction may involve exploitation of a vulnerable person or someone 65 or older may delay it for up to 10 calendar days, and must notify the Department of Human Services. It has no duty to do so.

What is the small claims limit in Mississippi?

The 2025 published text of Miss. Code section 9-11-9 gives justice courts jurisdiction over claims of up to $3,500. Confirm the current limit with the justice court before filing.