The problem

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The problem •

You trusted them… They took advantage.

You trusted a Detroit Auto Shop… They took your money and gave you nothing but lies. You were told the theft is “civil,” and the cycle continues. You probably feel like every shop is doing the same thing...

You’re right.

7 out of 10

Seven out of ten auto shops in Detroit are currently operating with active fraud. In Detroit, auto fraud is a systemic drain that takes $2.8 billion out of our neighborhoods every single year. This widespread theft is the primary reason Detroiters pay the highest auto insurance rates in the country, with premiums averaging over $5,000—nearly triple the national average.

In Michigan, carjacking a vehicle is a felony that carries up to a 15-year sentence. Yet, when a shop takes your money and your car, they often face nothing more than a $2,500 fine. They pay the fee and reopen the next day, while you are left without a car and without your savings.

This is theft.

why it happens

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why it happens •

Truth is… the system is stacked against us

They operate with a specific playbook designed to stay untouchable. They often avoid accountability under the Michigan Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act (MVSRA), a shop owner can dissolve their business the moment a major fraud claim or lawsuit hits their desk. By the next morning, they "sell" the assets to a "new" shop—often owned by the same person—and reopen in the same building under a different name. By "selling" the shop's tools to a new name, the owner keeps their personal bank account and their house safe from your lawsuit.

Because the state allows this "change of ownership" loophole, your legal claim stays with the old, empty company, while the "new" shop keeps running the same game with a clean record and zero debt.

…The cycle continues

These laws aren't an accident; they are a systemic cycle that the state has green-lit for decades. While most businesses are governed by the Consumer Protection Act, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the auto industry is effectively exempt from being sued for deceptive practices. The police can’t touch them, because the state law gives the industry a massive blind spot.

This loop syphons billions out of our city and into the pockets of the insurance companies and the auto industry. The system guarentees when they take your money, you have no way to take it back.

victim to victory

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victim to victory •

The cycle ends here.

In a city where 70% of shops are operating with fraud, you’re trapped in a systemic loop designed against us, which the city and state have green-lit. Our Victim to Victory program is the collective force required to break that loop. We have identified the specific legal loopholes these shops use to reopen and protect their personal assets. Our 5-phase program prevents shops from avoiding accountability.

By documenting your case and sharing the details of the theft, you provide the evidence required to bridge the gap between a "civil matter" and criminal charges.

We cannot hold these shops accountable without you. Taking from one means answering to all.

Enroll in program

Continue to learn more

Every case won is a victory. Every shop shut down is justice served.

  • Phase 1: civil to criminal

    Individual claims are easily dismissed by the city as civil disputes. We close this loophole by consolidating verified evidence to document criminal patterns that the state cannot ignore. This phase identifies the specific legal violations required to move your case from a "disagreement" to a criminal investigation, making the evidence against the shop undeniable.

  • Phase 2: Applying Pressure

    Once the evidence is verified, we move from investigation to enforcement. This phase uses coordinated strikes to force the legal process by applying pressure where the system normally fails. We ensure the shop owner cannot run and the system cannot hide, pushing the case toward a formal hearing. We win this phase by stripping the shop of its legal shields and moving directly toward your financial recovery.

  • Phase 3: Community Justice

    Once the shop is closed, the transition from action to resolution begins. By removing these predators, we improve our community by eliminating the fraud that drains our neighborhoods. This is where the road to recovery begins. While you support the mission, we handle the complex case requirements behind the scenes. Without DAAF, this process can take years; with our collective force, we move toward a resolution in a few short months.

  • Phase 4: road to recovery

    This is the final stage of accountability. We move into the courtroom to turn our collective evidence into an enforceable judgment. By maintaining a disciplined, organized presence at every hearing, we ensure the shop owner cannot run, hide, or wiggle out of their debt. We never give up until the judge's order is finalized, the shop is physically cleared out, and the road to recovery ends with the financial return you deserve.


  • Phase 5: Celebration & Legacy

    This phase marks the official completion of the program. To honor your commitment, every participant who sees the mission through to the end receives a Certificate of Completion as we celebrate your victory. After graduation, you can choose to continue the mission until systemic fraud is reduced and our neighborhoods make a full recovery.

    Your legacy with DAAF will be remembered as someone who challenged the system designed against them and won.

Begin Intake

inside daaf

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inside daaf •

What happens when we tackle the ROOT of our problems? Imagine Detroit after recovering from systemic auto fraud and exploitation. When the shops that funnel money to the suburbs and never invest in our communities are held accountable, the entire city wins. Join the movement doing what they said couldn’t be done. We need all hands on deck. Are you ready?

✓ Shut down predatory shops across Detroit
✓ Push for stronger laws and real consequences
✓ Help victims recover what they lost
✓ Protect Detroit drivers from fraud and abuse
✓ Lower costs and improve the quality of life across the city

Join The Movement

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. We need all hands on deck. While victims provide the forensic evidence required for the "Mass Strike," our organizers and supporters are the force that applies the pressure in the streets and the courtrooms. Whether you are filing a case or joining the movement, you are part of the collective required to break the loop.

  • No. DAAF is a movement of victims against auto fraud. We bridge the gap that law firms and the city usually ignore. While we work with legal professionals, our primary role is consolidating the criminal intelligence and mass evidence required to force the system to act.

  • You can, but the system is designed to exhaust individual lawyers with "civil matter" delays and low payouts. Most private firms will require a strong case to move forward. DAAF works because we move as a single, coordinated unit.

  • We use all stories to help build a case against shop owners. If you believe you have a case you are eligible to consult with our legal team for recovery. Our team can accept smaller cases that most law firms will ignore because our collective risk is much lower.

  • The standard legal system is designed to exhaust you over years. By moving as a collective force, we compress that timeline. With DAAF, we aim to move from the initial intake to a final resolution in a matter of months, not years.


  • Yes. Your data is handled with forensic-level security. We will never sell your data, and any information you provide is shared only with our legal team. We will always ask for your permission before sharing your story.

  • It doesn't cost anything. We are an organized movement of victims, not a law firm. We accept donations to help provide support, transportation, and critical infrastructure for our mission and for victims.

  • We continue to navigate the legal system as a collective force. We apply pressure to the representatives responsible. We never give up on the battle until the system changes.

Connect with us

Still have questions? Feel free to reach out. Whether you have a specific question about your case or tips on fraud, we’re here to help.

Join Hundreds of Detroiters on…

facebook

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facebook •

Share your experience or tips on fraud. Members Only.