How Minnesotans can stay one step ahead of scams

Minnesotans are seeing scam attempts increasingly appear in routine daily moments — a message about a delivery, a call from "your bank" or an email that seems to come from someone you trust.

• These messages are designed to feel familiar enough to trust and urgent enough to act upon.

April marks AARP Fraud Prevention Month — an effort focused on helping Minnesotans recognize these patterns and respond with more confidence.

Why it's important: Scams rarely begin with something that looks obviously wrong, but scammers rely on speed to create situations where hesitation feels risky.

• An example: In Falcon Heights, a resident noticed a small inconsistency in an email that appeared to come from a trusted community contact — and that small detail stopped a $2,000 gift card request before it escalated.

Okay, but: Fraud is not a random occurrence. Statewide, residents across age groups have lost thousands of dollars through impersonation schemes, fraudulent tech support and fabricated emergencies involving family members.

• Minnesota consumers reported $144.6 million in fraud losses and filed 51,773 fraud reports in 2024.

Here's the deal: Throughout April, AARP Minnesota is bringing that guidance directly into communities across the state through workshops, local events and virtual sessions designed around real scenarios.

• The goal is to help Minnesotans recognize common red flags, pause before responding and know what to do when something feels off.

The strategy: Fraud prevention depends on slowing the moment down, like questioning why a payment method feels unusual or recognizing when urgency is being used to limit your time to think.

These small actions are most effective when they become instinct, and AARP's Fraud Watch Network is built to support that shift.

• Minnesotans can access tools that reflect what is happening in real time, from AARP's locally reported Scam-Tracking map to their Watchdog Alerts, which flag emerging scam tactics.
• When uncertainty lingers, a free helpline offers direct guidance based on the situation at hand.

The idea: Partnerships with local organizations and events across the state help move these conversations out of theory and into familiar settings where people can ask questions, hear real examples and recognize patterns earlier.

• When people talk openly about fraud, it becomes easier to identify and harder to repeat as the same tactics lose effectiveness.

Worth a mention: Policy is evolving alongside these efforts.

• Minnesota's Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund, which took effect this year, reflects a broader push to support victims and strengthen protections.
• Lawmakers have passed a bipartisan bill to ban cryptocurrency kiosks (Bitcoin ATMs) statewide, and it's now headed to the governor's office for signing.

But fraud will continue to adapt, and effective prevention will need to combine education, accessible tools and safeguards to reflect how scams actually operate.

An expert take: "Criminals are persistent, and awareness alone won't stop them," said Cathy McLeer, state director of AARP Minnesota. "That's why AARP is active in Minnesota communities — so people can better protect themselves and their loved ones."

The takeaway: Fraud prevention starts with changing how decisions are made in pressured moments.

• AARP Fraud Prevention Month gives Minnesotans a way to build those habits in real situations and carry them forward long after the interaction ends.

Learn more about free AARP events and resources.