Fraud & Identity Theft Prevention
Minnesotans lose millions of dollars to scam artists and bogus telemarketers through phony contests, sweepstakes scams, and lottery fraud. Criminals will use e-mails, phone calls and mailings to gain your trust and take your money.
PROTECT YOURSELF, learn to spot the signs of consumer fraud:
- Pressure Tactics; don't be pressured in making a decision about an offer, check it our first
- Payment up Front
- Time Pressure; send it quickly
- Refusal to Provide References; conceal their mailing address and/or phone number
- It seems too good to be true
- You won
- Don't Tell
- Be wary of anything that promises large sums of money
- Don't give out personal or financial information to anyone over the internet or phone.
If you feel you have been a victim of a fraud or scam please call the Rochester/Olmsted County Law Enforcement Center at 328-6800 (non-emergency number).
"No More Minnesota Nice" is the message of the Minnesota Fraud Enforcement Partnership (MN Scams) through the the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Visit their website (www.mnscams.org) for additional prevention information. If you have not been a victim but believe you have received a fraudulent scam contact MN Scams:
online: mnscams.org
email: report@mnscams.org
or call: 866/347-0911
Remember you can help stop fraud by reporting it.
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office (http://www.ag.state.mn.us/) is an excellent resource with prevention information and many on-line publications to reduce your risk of being a victim.
We ask that you please share this information with your family and friends. By talking about scams, hopefully we can prevent another victim.
Fraud and Identity Theft Resources
Resources
Protect Yourself