The MN Department of Commerce is warning about scammers impersonating the Department to demand money from consumers under false pretenses.
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 used to make scams sound legitimate, often with bank impersonation scams. Fraudsters may also impersonate the FBI, fraud hotlines, and other government agencies, targeting people who have already lost money. They may demand payment to investigate a case, prioritize a report or recover lost funds. Scammers may imitate official reporting services to steal personal or financial information.
Tips for consumers:
- 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.