Protecting Public Funds in Minnesota 

The State of Minnesota is committed to safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring that public resources are used for their intended purpose: serving the people of Minnesota. Preventing fraud, waste, and misuse is a shared responsibility across state government, and strong oversight helps ensure programs remain effective, efficient, and trustworthy. 

Our Approach to Preventing Fraud and Waste 

Commerce uses a wide range of tools and safeguards to protect public funds. These efforts include: 

• Strong internal controls to detect and prevent fraud 
• Continuous monitoring of operations to identify suspicious activity 
• Ongoing staff training on fraud awareness and reporting 
• Partnerships across state government to improve prevention and accountability 

These measures help ensure that funding reaches the communities, families, and businesses it is designed to support. See our internal policy on Reporting Fraud, Misuse, and Unlawful Access for more details. 

Reporting Suspected Fraud 

We encourage Minnesotans to speak up if they see something that doesn’t seem right. Reports of suspected fraud help protect public programs and ensure taxpayer dollars are used appropriately. 

Fraud may include:  

• Misuse of state funds or benefits 
• False statements or misrepresentation 
• Unauthorized access to state systems or data 

If you believe you’ve witnessed wrongdoing related to state programs, you can file a report through the appropriate agency’s fraud reporting process. Reports can be made confidentially, and state law protects individuals who report suspected fraud in good faith.