STATE OF MICHIGAN
IN THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF MACOMB
DANA NESSEL, ATTORNEY GENERAL
OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, ex rel
The People of the State of Michigan,
No. 21- -CZ
Petitioner,
v HON.
UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN a/k/a KRISTIN
HOLLIDAY,
Respondent.
Darrin F. Fowler (P53464)
Assistant Attorney General
Michigan Dep’t of Attorney General
Corporate Oversight Division
P.O. Box 30736
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 335-7632
FowlerD1@michigan.gov
ATTORNEY GENERAL’S EX PARTE PETITION FOR CIVIL
INVESTIGATIVE SUBPOENAS
I. Parties, Legal Authority, and Venue
1. The Michigan Department of Attorney General (“Attorney General”) is
authorized to file an ex parte petition with the Circuit Court requesting issuance of
investigative subpoenas pursuant to Section 7 of the Michigan Consumer Protection
Act (“MCPA”). That statute provides in pertinent part:
Upon the ex parte application of the attorney general to the circuit
court in the county where the defendant is established or conducts
business or, if the defendant is not established in this state, in Ingham
county, the circuit court, if it finds probable cause to believe a person
has engaged, is engaging, or is about to engage in a method, act, or
practice which is unlawful under this act, may, after ex parte hearing,
issue a subpoena compelling a person to appear before the attorney
general and answer under oath questions relating to an alleged
violation of this act . . . . The subpoena may compel a person to
produce the books, records, papers, documents, or things relating to a
violation of this act. . . . [MCL 445.907(1).]
2. The true identity of the Respondent in this matter is unknown. This
person has used the alias Kristin Holliday on Facebook, and in social media. The
purpose of this investigation is to ascertain the Unknown Respondent’s true
identity. This Petition has been captioned in the manner anticipated by MCR
2.106(C) and MCR 2.201(D).
3. As detailed below, the person using the Kristin Holliday alias targeted
residents of Macomb County, Michigan in a scam that violates the MCPA. This
makes this Court an appropriate venue for this Petition.
II. Factual Background
4. On August 9, 2021 the Attorney General received an email from a
Michigan resident named Lauren Navarra. Lauren advised the Attorney General
that someone named Kristin Holliday was selling blank vaccine cards on the
Moms2MomsSwap-Macomb County marketplace for $25. Lauren provided screen
shots validating her complaint. (Lauren’s email and screen shots, Attachment A).
5. The availability of vaccines that are safe and effective in limiting the
spread and severity of the Coronavirus have had the unfortunate side effect of
2
creating a black market for fake vaccination cards, and for real vaccination cards
that can be filled in with false information by the purchaser. Such cards are desired
by persons who want to engage in more normalized work, educational, and social
opportunities without accepting the obligations we all owe to each other in living in
a civil society. The problems surrounding this black market have been detailed in
numerous recent media stories. 1
6. Fake vaccination cards pose a serious public health threat and
endanger the lives of Michiganders. Thus, upon receiving Lauren’s complaint, the
Attorney General made further inquiry. The report of Special Agent Jeff Campbell
is included as Attachment B to this Petition to show this investigation.
7. As detailed in Special Agent Campbell’s report, the Kristin Holliday
identity appears to be a false one. The Facebook profile for Kristin Holliday is:
https://www.facebook.com/kristin.holliday.94. According to the profile, Holliday
lives in St. Clair Shores, Michigan and is formerly of Clearwater, Florida. But,
using both publicly available and law enforcement databases, Special Agent
Campbell was not able to find anyone by that name ever living in either location.
1(Diaz, Jaclyn, Fake COVID Vaccine Cards Are Being Sold Online. Using One Is A
Crime (June 8, 2021), NPR, available at
https://www.npr.org/2021/06/08/1004264531/fake-covid-vaccine-cards-keep-getting-
sold-online-using-one-is-a-crime)
(Marnin, Julia, Fake COVID Vaccine Cards Can Be Bought Online for as Little as
$25, Worrying Officials (August 9, 2021), Newsweek, available at
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fake-covid-vaccine-cards-can-be-bought-online-
for-as-little-as-2425-worrying-officials/ar-AAN75Hz?ocid=uxbndlbing)
3
Special Agent Campbell points out “Kristin Holliday” is a common name, shared by
real people in Michigan and throughout the country, but none of whom appear
associated with the Facebook profile. (Id.).
8. Further, Special Agent Campbell performed Google image searches
and found the Facebook profile for Kristin Holliday uses stock photos, including one
commonly used in marketing Hawaiian vacations. (Id.).
9. The Kristin Holliday profile on Facebook is less than two years old,
contains scant information, and has no linked friends. As Special Agent Campbell
observes, it contains just enough information to give a superficial impression of
being that of a real person. But, in his professional experience, it bears all the
hallmarks of being a fake profile created for the purpose of committing fraud. (Id.).
10. Based on this investigation, it appears the Kristin Holliday persona
was created not to undermine the public health, but to financially exploit the
residents of Macomb County. A very short history of sales of varying products was
created to that end. (Attachment A).
11. The person using the Kristin Holliday persona used the
Mom2MomSwap-Macomb County marketplace in an effort to entice purchasers of a
good that would likely never be delivered. During this pandemic, undersigned
counsel has seen a growing trend by which fraudsters are taking a grass roots
4
approach to their schemes by infiltrating neighborhood chat groups and other local
social media.2
12. Such fraudsters are taking advantage of our desire to trust our
neighbors.
13. The MCPA defines unfair and deceptive trade practices that are
outlawed in the State of Michigan. See MCL 445.903. Among the prohibited
practices are “[c]ausing a probability of confusion or misunderstanding as to the
source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or services.” MCL
445.903(1)(a). As detailed in Special Agent Campbell’s report, there is probable
cause to believe a person named Kristin Holliday is not the true source of the blank
vaccine cards, holders, and other items being sold in the Mom2MomSwap
marketplace.
14. The MCPA also prohibits “[u]sing deceptive representations or
deceptive designations of geographic origin in connection with goods or
services.” MCL 445.903(1)(b). Here, as Special Agent Campbell’s report details, it
appears the person using the Kristin Holliday persona is not from St. Clair Shores,
but is instead falsely using that geographic location in the Facebook profile to entice
consumers from Macomb County to hand over their money.
2 (Thompson, Carol, Fake puppies, price gouging and hoax COVID cures: a year in
coronavirus scams (May 4, 2021), Lansing State Journal, available at
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/2021/05/04/avoid-online-scams-
increase-covid-coronavirus-pandemic/7318443002/)
5
15. Also illegal under the MCPA is “[r]epresenting that goods or services
have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or
quantities that they do not have or that a person has sponsorship, approval, status,
affiliation, or connection that he or she does not have.” MCL 445.903(1)(c). In
crafting the Kristin Holliday profile on Facebook, the person perpetuating this
fraud sought to create the illusion that blank, but otherwise legitimate, vaccination
cards were available by claiming an affiliation to Doctors Without Borders. Since
the identity itself is a false one, there is probable cause to believe this
representation is also false.
16. Finally, the MCPA also prohibits “[a]dvertising or representing goods
or services with intent not to dispose of those goods or services as advertised or
represented.” MCL 445.903(1)(g). Based on Special Agent Campbell’s report, and
his professional experience as detailed therein, there is probable cause to believe
the postings Lauren shared with the Attorney General were made not to actually
traffic blank vaccination cards, but to induce Macomb County residents to pay for
something that would never be delivered. However deplorable such a purchase
would itself be, the attempted fraud here is inexcusable.
17. The Attorney General has brought this Petition for the purpose of
opening an investigation into this matter. Authorization is sought for a subpoena to
Facebook to learn the identity of the person creating the Kristin Holliday profile
described above, and any other relevant information. Further, authorization to
6
issue additional subpoenas based on what is learned through this effort is
requested.
18. Accordingly, the Attorney General respectfully requests authorization
to issues subpoenas pursuant to the proposed order submitted as Attachment C.
Respectfully submitted,
DANA NESSEL
Attorney General
Darrin F. Fowler (P53464)
Assistant Attorney General
Michigan Dep’t of Attorney General
Attorney for Petitioner
Corporate Oversight Division
P.O. Box 30736
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 335-7632
Dated: August 26, 2021 FowlerD1@michigan.gov
7
Dana Nessel, Attorney General of the State of Michigan, ex rel The People of
the State of Michigan v Unknown, Unknown a/k/a Kristin Holliday
ATTACHMENT A
Consumer Complaint and Screen Shots
Subject: FW: Fraudulent vaccine cards
From: Lauren <lauren
Sent: Monday, August 9, 2021
To: Michigan Attorney General <miag@michigan.gov>
Subject: Fraudulent vaccine cards
CAUTION: This is an External email. Please send suspicious emails to abuse@michigan.gov
Hello,
I'm not sure where exactly this should "officially" be reported, but was hoping sending it here would help get it where it
needed to go.
There is a woman posting fraudulent (blank) covid vaccine cards on the "Mom2MomSwap‐ Macomb County" page on
Facebook.
I will post the link, but incase it has been removed, I have also attached screenshots and information of the poster.
Post: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/219709626742103/
Posters profile:
https://www.facebook.com/kristin.holliday.94
Thank you,
Lauren
1
Dana Nessel, Attorney General of the State of Michigan, ex rel The People of
the State of Michigan v Unknown, Unknown a/k/a Kristin Holliday
ATTACHMENT B
Special Agent Initial Report
STATE OF MICHIGAN ORIGINAL DATE ATTY GEN LEGAL FILES NUMBER
DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL 8/9/21 2021-0327312-A
DATE OF THIS REPORT DIVISION AND UNIT ASSIGNED
POLICE REPORT 8/20/21 CID - CORPORATE OVERSIGHT
SPECIAL AGENT NAME AAG ASSIGNED CASE STATUS
Jeff Campbell Darrin Fowler Open
STREET ADDRESS AND CITY OF INVESTIGATOR OFFICE REPORT NUMBER AND REPORT TYPE
Williams Building - 525 W. Ottawa St. Lansing, MI 48909 #1 – Initial Report
Report Type
Initial Report – Report #1
Venue:
Macomb County, MI
Complainant:
Lauren
Initial Information:
On 8/20/21, I was assigned to look into a complaint that was emailed to the Attorney General’s
Corporate Oversight Division email address by Lauren . In her complaint, Ms.
advised of a woman who had posted a fraudulent/blank COVID vaccination card for sale on the
“Mom2MomSwap – Macomb County” Facebook page. In her complaint email dated 8/9/21, Ms.
included a link to the post about the blank vaccination card. This link is
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/219709626742103/. She also included a link to the
poster’s Facebook profile, which is https://www.facebook.com/kristin.holliday.94. Ms.
also included three screenshots of the post she was referring to in her complaint. These are
included with the file for this complaint. A copy of the sales post screenshot is included below:
Page 1 of 3 INVESTIGATED BY REPORTED BY APPROVED BY:
Special Agent Jeff Campbell
DATE APPROVED:
08/23/2021
STATE OF MICHIGAN ORIGINAL DATE ATTY GEN LEGAL FILES NUMBER
DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL 8/9/21 2021-0327312-A
DATE OF THIS REPORT DIVISION AND UNIT ASSIGNED
POLICE REPORT 8/20/21 CID - CORPORATE OVERSIGHT
Initial Investigation:
I checked the link sent by Ms. and found that this particular advertisement on
Facebook Marketplace was no longer active. The page indicated that the listing was either sold
or expired. I searched Facebook Marketplace for similar postings but was not able to locate one
posted similar to the listing found by Ms. anywhere in Michigan on 8/20/21. I was not
able to search the “Mom2MomSwap – Macomb County” page because this is a private Facebook
group and not publicly viewable by non-members.
I found that the link to the Facebook profile of https://www.facebook.com/kristin.holliday.94 was
still active as of this report. I noticed that this page had very little publicly available
information listed, and included some generic photos posted between 1/29/2020 and 5/24/21. The
Intro section listed Kristin Holliday as working for Doctors Without Borders, studied at Florida
State University, living in St. Clair, MI and originally from Clearwater, FL.
I searched for Kristin Holliday in both publicly available databases as well as law enforcement
databases available to me, but found nobody by the name of Kristin Holliday living in St. Clair,
MI. I was also unable to find anyone by that name as having lived in Clearwater, FL. I found
several people of the same name living elsewhere in Michigan, and numerous people named
Kristin Holliday elsewhere in the United States, but I was unable to link any of them to this
particular Facebook page.
I searched several of the images I saw on the Kristin Holliday Facebook page. In Google Images,
I searched the profile photo that was posted on the page on 5/24/21 depicting a male and female
on paddle boards in the water, giving each other a “high five”. This exact same photo is used as
a cover photo on several different international travel websites advertising travel to Hawaii.
Some of these websites include https://www.visittheusa.co.uk/state/hawaii,
https://www.gousa.in/state/hawaii, and https://www.visittheusa.fr/state/hawai. I also searched
for the other photos posted on the Facebook page, but was not able to locate exact matches to the
ones posted on the Kristin Holliday profile.
Based on my experience investigating various internet-based scams, this Facebook page is
similar to others I have seen used to commit fraud. For example, this page uses a common name
(Kristin Holliday), and uses generic, stock photos frequently available on the internet. There is
also very little posting history, status update history, and no “friends” currently connected with
this account. This leads me to believe that the person(s) behind this profile put just enough
information into it to make it appear to be a legitimate Facebook page for a real person. These
observations, along with the fact that I am not able to find anyone by the name of Kristin
Holliday living in or near St. Clair that appears to be connected to this page leads me to believe
that it was created for the purpose of committing fraud.
On 8/20/21, I sent a preservation request to Facebook, asking for the preservation of all records
pertaining to https://www.facebook.com/kristin.holliday.94. I recommend that the Corporate
Page 2 of 3 INVESTIGATED BY REPORTED BY APPROVED BY:
Special Agent Jeff Campbell
DATE APPROVED: 08/23/2021
STATE OF MICHIGAN ORIGINAL DATE ATTY GEN LEGAL FILES NUMBER
DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL 8/9/21 2021-0327312-A
DATE OF THIS REPORT DIVISION AND UNIT ASSIGNED
POLICE REPORT 8/20/21 CID - CORPORATE OVERSIGHT
Oversight Division seek a court ordered subpoena for information from Facebook that may lead
to the identity of the person(s) who created this profile to further this investigation.
Investigator Bio:
I have been employed as a Special Agent with the Michigan Department of Attorney General
since 3/23/2020 and in that time, have been trained in the procedures in which investigations
are conducted by the Michigan Department of Attorney General. I became certified as a law
enforcement officer in 1994 within the State of Michigan after completing the recognition of prior
training and experience program through the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement
Standards. Prior to employment with the Michigan Attorney General, I was a sworn law
enforcement officer and investigator for the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office in Eaton County,
Michigan from March of 1995 through March of 2020. I was assigned to the department’s
Detective Bureau from 2000 through 2003 and again as commander of the Detective Bureau
from 2017 through March of 2020. I have received numerous hours of in-service training to
expand his knowledge of criminal investigation and have also conducted hundreds of felony and
misdemeanor criminal investigations including but not limited to, homicide, robbery, financial
exploitation of the elderly, fraud, embezzlement, theft, organized crime, and securities fraud.
Evidence:
1. Electronic folder containing 3 screenshots of the Facebook post and profile information
provided by the complainant.
2. Electronic folder containing Facebook profile photos and screenshot collected by SA Jeff
Campbell (5 files).
Status:
Open, investigation continuing.
Page 3 of 3 INVESTIGATED BY REPORTED BY APPROVED BY:
Special Agent Jeff Campbell
DATE APPROVED:
08/23/2021
Dana Nessel, Attorney General of the State of Michigan, ex rel The People of
the State of Michigan v Unknown, Unknown a/k/a Kristin Holliday
ATTACHMENT C
Proposed Order Authorizing Issuance of
Civil Investigative Subpoenas
STATE OF MICHIGAN
IN THE 16TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF MACOMB
DANA NESSEL, ATTORNEY GENERAL
OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, ex rel
The People of the State of Michigan,
No. 21- -CZ
Petitioner,
v HON.
UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN a/k/a KRISTIN
HOLLIDAY,
Respondent.
Darrin F. Fowler (P53464)
Assistant Attorney General
Michigan Dep’t of Attorney General
Corporate Oversight Division
P.O. Box 30736
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 335-7632
FowlerD1@michigan.gov
ORDER AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF CIVIL INVESTIGATIVE
SUBPOENAS
At a session of said Court, held on
________________, 2021, in the County of Macomb, Michigan.
Present: HON. ____________________
The Attorney General has presented this Court with an Ex Parte Petition for
Civil Investigative Subpoenas related to an investigation of Respondent Unknown,
Unknown a/k/a Kristin Holliday. Through the Ex Parte Petition, the Attorney
General alleges that there is probable cause to believe Respondent has violated the
Michigan Consumer Protection Act (“Act”), MCL 445.901 et seq.
Having had an opportunity to review these materials, this Court finds that
probable cause exists to believe Respondent has violated the Act.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the Attorney General, acting through
her assistants, is authorized to issue a Subpoena to Facebook and additional
subpoenas seeking testimony and documentation from persons and entities that are
identified during the course of this investigation.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
_______________________________________
Hon.
Circuit Court Judge
