Fraud Alert: Scammers Impersonating Minnesota Department of Commerce

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is warning about scammers using the Department's name, address, and logo to demand money from consumers under false pretenses.

The Threat

In a recent case, a consumer received a fraudulent letter using Commerce's name, address, and logo. The letter demanded a "money laundering Patriot Act clearance fee" to release a large sum of money to the consumer's bank.

This is a scam. The Department of Commerce does not charge consumers fees and will never solicit money from individuals.

Anti-money laundering (AML) terminology is often used with bank impersonation scams to make them sound legitimate. Fraudsters may also impersonate the FBI, fraud hotlines, and other government agencies, targeting people who have already lost money. 

What to Watch For

Fraudsters may:

• Demand payment to investigate a case, prioritize a report, or recover lost funds
• Impersonate government agencies, banks, or official fraud reporting services
• Imitate official reporting services to steal personal or financial information

Actions to Take

Help your customers recognize these scams by sharing the following guidance from the Minnesota Department of Commerce:

• Never pay an upfront fee to receive promised funds or recover lost money.
• Verify requests using contact information from an agency's official website.
• Never provide personal or financial information through unverified websites or unsolicited messages.

Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or report online scams through the FBI's official website at IC3.gov. Type these addresses directly into your browser rather than following unsolicited links.

Learn more about consumer protection from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Remember: Scammers can make letters, websites, and calls look official. Always verify before you send money or share information.

_{Source: Minnesota Department of Commerce}