For Immediate Release, April 1, 2020

As Minnesotans settle into their Stay Home MN routines, we are more reliant than ever on staying connected through our phones.  Scammers – both individuals and companies – are taking advantage of the uncertainty and greater use of phones to use illegal robocalls to profit from misinformation and Coronavirus-related fears. 

Despite the fact that few people respond to robocalls, scammers only need a few to take the bait for them to make money. They may request your personal information such as social security or bank account numbers or they may ask victims to purchase gift cards to pay for so-called services or fees such as COVID-19 at-home tests, small business insurance or investment protection. 

Here are the best tips to follow to protect you from scams:

DO NOT ANSWER. If you are not familiar with the phone number, have the call go directly to voicemail.

HANG UP. Do not press any numbers. The recording might say that pressing a number will let you speak to a live operator who will eventually ask you for money or say they will remove you from their call list, but answering will actually lead to MORE robocalls.

VERIFY. Do not call any telephone number or go directly to a website that you are directed to on the call.  You should always look up and verify any number or website on Google™ first, rather than relying on any information that you are given. 

REPORT robocalls at ftc.gov/complaint. The more complaints that are filed, the more the FTC can help to stop them and share that information with the public and law enforcement. If you have any other questions, you can call the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Senior Financial Ombudsman, Marty Fleischhacker at 952-237-7571

FIND A CALL BLOCKING APP OR DEVICE. You also can ask your phone provider if it has call-blocking tools. To learn more, go to ftc.gov/calls.

SUBSCRIBE to the FTC’s consumer alerts. 

Below are links from the Federal Trade Commission, of some of the latest scam robocall pitches, so you can be on the lookout and know how to avoid these scams.

• Social Security Administration scam
• Fake tests for Medicare recipients
• Small business listing scam

With You Every Day

Wherever you are in Minnesota, the Department of Commerce is with you every day. Whether you’re filling up on gas, purchasing a home, working to reduce energy consumption or rebuilding after a disaster—we are with you, no matter what.

The Minnesota Commerce Department oversees more than 20 regulated industries, ensuring that Minnesota businesses are strong and Minnesota consumers are protected. Our mission is to protect the public interest, advocate for Minnesota consumers, ensure a strong, competitive and fair marketplace, strengthen the state’s economic future and serve as a trusted public resource for consumers and businesses.  If you have any questions about our regulated industries, you can call the Commerce Services Center at 651.539.1600 between 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.   

Contact
Minnesota Department of Commerce
Marty Fleischhacker, Senior Financial Fraud Ombudsman
martin.fleischhacker@state.mn.us
952-23-7571