Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.head.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.head.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }'include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.head.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_global_js.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.head.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }'include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 53 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.head.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }'include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.head.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }'include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 54 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.
The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”
He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.
AARP Minnesota is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a state-level restitution fund for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.
“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.
“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”
A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.
Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.
At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.
The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.
Predatory contracts?
Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.
The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”
The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the Bulletin, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.
AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.
To learn more and get involved, go to aarp.org/mnscamhelp.
Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.
More on fraud
This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the AARP Minnesota page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1]Code Context$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = falseinclude - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1]Code Context$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = falseinclude - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Saint Paul</span>' $location = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Twin Cities, MN</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242]Code Context<?php // if (!$nowrapper) (Globals::$language == 'es') ? include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer_es.html") : include(APP . "/Resource/aarpe_footer.html"); ?>
<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Saint Paul</span>' $location = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Twin Cities, MN</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 242 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Saint Paul</span>' $location = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Twin Cities, MN</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243]Code Context<?php if (!$nowrapper): // MLW - Spanish wrappers TBD
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Saint Paul</span>' $location = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Twin Cities, MN</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 243 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html) [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Saint Paul</span>' $location = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Twin Cities, MN</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118
Warning (2): include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244]Code Contextinclude (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.footer.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.bodyTargeting.html");
include (APP . "Resource/aarp2_master.resource.footer.root.html");
$viewFile = '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'content_for_layout' => '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ', 'scripts_for_layout' => '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }', 'title_for_layout' => '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' ) $content_for_layout = '<div class="row twoColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail"><div class="module clearfix"><div class="ar-basic-box"> <div> <div class="module-spacer"> <header><h1 class="article-headline">Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</h1></header> <div class="posted-on"> Posted on 03/01/24 by <b>Sarah Hollander</b> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer"> <span class="blog-content"><p><div class="RichTextArticleBody"> <div class="RichTextArticleBody-body"><p>In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of a multimillion-dollar sweepstakes win. The catch: They had to pay taxes up front to get the prize money.<br><br>The thieves kept the couple on the phone for hours—talking about whatever they wanted—“to win over their hearts and trust,” says their son, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his parents’ privacy. At the end of each call, he says, “They’d say, ‘God bless you.’ ”<br><br>He filed a report with the local police department, but more than three years later, the perpetrators remain unidentified—and the money was never recouped.<br><br><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AARP Minnesota</a></span></span> is hoping to help such fraud victims get some of their money back. In the current legislative session, AARP is pressing state lawmakers to pass a bill that would create a <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state-level restitution fund </a></span></span>for fraud victims who would otherwise have no recourse. It would be run by the state attorney general’s office.<br><br>“It’s an idea we completely support,” says Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney. She says such a fund is particularly vital in cases where the perpetrator is overseas or bankrupt.<br><br>According to the <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/FraudandIDTheftMaps/AllReportsbyState" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Federal Trade Commission</a></span></span>, Americans reported 2.5 million cases of fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. Total losses for the year reached $9 billion.<br><br>“Incidents of fraud have really exploded in recent years,” says Mary Jo George, AARP Minnesota’s state advocacy director. “Education is critical, but we need more tools to get ahead of this.”<br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><figure class="Figure" data-alignment="left"> <img src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/41/55/a0556c4b40cd96934a3a7a26d0ce/mn-fraud-graphic-march.png" alt="MN fraud graphic - March.png" width="638" height="547" style="height: auto; max-width: 550px;"/> <figcaption class="Figure-caption">Graphic: Nicolas Rapp</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div><p>A victims restitution fund could be particularly important in helping older people who are no longer working recover financially, she says. As envisioned, money for the state restitution fund would come from civil penalty payments from other consumer fraud enforcement cases won by the attorney general’s office.<br><br>Currently, excess money from these cases goes into the state’s general fund. The surplus amount varies depending on annual caseloads and outcomes. It could be nothing one year and millions of dollars in another, but overall is “a not insubstantial amount,” according to University of Minnesota law professor Prentiss Cox, a consultant to AARP on consumer protection law.<br><br>At least six states have created some form of state-level restitution for victims of investment frauds and scams, an idea AARP is advocating for in more states, says Chad Mullen, AARP’s national director of financial security.<br><br>The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau runs a civil penalty fund for victims of deceptive or unfair business practices. If a person or company is penalized but the money taken illegally cannot be located and returned, the CFPB’s fund can compensate victims. But Whitney notes it applies only to cases the CFPB is involved with.<br><br><b>Predatory contracts?</b><br><br>Another legislative priority for AARP this year is ending long-term real estate contracts that consumer advocates consider predatory and misleading.<br><br>The contracts surfaced in the Twin Cities metro area in 2021, when Florida-based MV Realty began offering homeowners quick cash in exchange for the future right to sell their property. MV promotes its upfront payments, which run from $300 to $5,000, as a “loan alternative.”<br><br>The contracts bind homeowners for 40 years—giving MV the exclusive right to sell the property or to collect a steep fee if the homeowner uses a different agent. MV, which did not respond to requests for comment from the <i>Bulletin</i>, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last September. Before that, the company executed hundreds of agreements in Minnesota.<br><br>AARP wants state legislators to ban such contracts. Sixteen other states have already passed bills doing so, based on model legislation developed by AARP and other groups. Such contracts “prey on older homeowners and people in lower-income neighborhoods,” George says.<br><br>To learn more and get involved, go to <span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://action.aarp.org/MNScamHelp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">aarp.org/mnscamhelp</a></span></span>.<br><br><i>Sarah Hollander, a freelance writer and former daily newspaper reporter in Cleveland, has written for the AARP Bulletin for 15 years.</i><br></p><div class="Enhancement" > <div class="Enhancement-item"><span class="VideoEnhancement" data-video-disable-history data-embeddedvideo-container> <div class="VideoEnhancement-player"><bsp-brightcoveplayer data-video-player class="BrightcoveVideoPlayer" data-account="3772599298001" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-video-title="How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud" > <video class="video-js" id="BrightcoveVideoPlayer-6304640052001" data-video-id="6304640052001" data-account="" data-player="KM9xJAJa4" data-embed="default" controls ></video> </bsp-brightcoveplayer> </div> <div class="VideoEnhancement-title">How to Protect a Loved One From Fraud</div> </span> </div> </div><p><b>More on fraud</b><br></p><ul><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/safely-send-money-on-zelle.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How to Avoid Scams on Zelle, Venmo and Other P2P Apps</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2024/facebook-marketplace.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">What You Need to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams</a></span></span></li><li><span class="Enhancement" ><span class="Enhancement-item"><a class="Link" href="https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/fake-usps-ups-smishing-texts.html?intcmp=AE-FRDSC-MOR-R2-POS3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Package Delivery Problems? Maybe Not. Americans Are Swamped With Scam Texts</a></span></span></li></ul></div> </div> </p></span> </div> </div> <p><i>This story is provided by AARP Minnesota. Visit the <a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank">AARP Minnesota</a> page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.</i></p> </div> </div><div class="module clearfix"><script src="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.c85a242a55150cd195e494cd6e5b9c77.gz.js" async=""></script> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/resource/00000168-dd17-d487-a96e-df5fe3ee0000/styleguide/All.min.bfe6eb5a8301841feef3af4e9bd1e26d.gz.css"> <!-- bypass --> <style> a:focus, a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } h1.article-headline { margin: 0 0 1rem; } </style> <!-- <style> .Enhancement-item .Figure { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body ul { margin-bottom: 24px; } .RichTextArticleBody-body p{ margin: 12px 0; } .RichTextModule-items { clear: both; display: table; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 12px; } .VideoEnhancement>* { color: var(--primaryTextColor); font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.4; font-style: italic; background: #f0efed } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement>* { font-size:14px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.47 } } .VideoEnhancement-title { padding: 20px } @media only screen and (min-width: 768px) { .VideoEnhancement-title { padding:30px } } .VideoEnhancement-player>* { position: relative; width: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.25% } .VideoEnhancement iframe { border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100% } [data-video-player] { display: block; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; margin: 0 auto; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="4x3"] { padding-bottom: 56.25%; } [data-video-player][data-aspect-ratio="16x9"] { padding-bottom: 56.25% } </style> --></div><div class="module clearfix"><div class="module-spacer tout-homefit-750"> <a data-formelementid="CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-HC-NEWSSK-02272024"><img class="img-responsive" alt="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" title="Explore the free AARP HomeFit Guide" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/touts/HomeFit_750x150.png"></a> </div></div></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail thin-rhs"><div class="module clearfix"><!--default--> <!-- module_RHS - AARP Events --> <pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include(/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978bc995-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978bc995-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><pre class="cake-error"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none');"><b>Warning</b> (2)</a>: include() [<a href='http://php.net/function.include'>function.include</a>]: Failed opening '/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/app//Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html' for inclusion (include_path='/var/www/vhosts/vcc_staging/lib:.:/usr/share/pear:/usr/share/php') [<b>APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code</b>, line <b>1</b>]<div id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-trace" class="cake-stack-trace" style="display: none;"><a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-code').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Code</a> <a href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display = (document.getElementById('cakeErr66da9978be31e-context').style.display == 'none' ? '' : 'none')">Context</a><pre id="cakeErr66da9978be31e-context" class="cake-context" style="display: none;">$module = array( '_id' => '66158db0e9dff2b1fd9cafcd', 'module_id' => '1098', 'name' => 'RHS - Events Experience', 'type' => 'php', 'data' => '<?php include(APP . "/Resource/experience.master.resource.root.html"); ?> <style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style>', 'css' => '.recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px} .recommenadationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:rgb(221,18,0); font-size:12px} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px} ', 'script' => '', 'cache_time' => '', 'localize' => '0' ) $obj = false</pre><pre class="stack-trace">include - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 eval - APP/Lib/Modules.php(13) : eval()'d code, line 1 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 13 Modules::load() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 29 Localize::getModule() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 294 Localize::replace() - APP/Lib/Localize.php, line 219 Modules::render() - APP/Lib/Modules.php, line 9 include - APP/View/Elements/display.ctp, line 13 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167</pre></div></pre><style type="text/css"> .recommenationSection {font-family: Lato, sans-serif} .recommendationSection h3 {font-size:30px!important; text-transform:none; letter-spacing:0.03em} .recommendationSection .js-mvc-offer-recommended-article-pack-category {color:#dd1200; font-family:Lato, sans-serif; font-size:15px; font-weight:700; text-transform:uppercase; margin:0} .recommendationSection h4 a {color:#121212; font-size:20px; font-weight:700} .recommendationSection .uxdia-c-featured-tile__content-wrapper {padding: 0 0 .5em 0; margin-bottom: 1.25em; border-bottom: 1px solid #000} </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_53475" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_53475', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="card-tout card-dark membership-tout" style="margin:0 0 30px 0;"> <img class="img-responsive image" title="image of two AARP membership cards" alt="image of two AARP membership cards" src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/tout-two-cards.png"> <div class="title">Only $12 your first year with Automatic Renewal</div> <ul class="list"> <li>Immediate access to your <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/">member benefits</a></li> <li>Discounts on travel and everyday savings</li> <li>Subscription to AARP The Magazine</li> <li>FREE second membership</li> </ul> <div class="action"> <a class="btn" href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid=UAJFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Join AARP</a> <div class="body">Already a member? <a href="https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew?campaignid= UARFT3&intcmp=LNK-CSN-AARPLOCAL-JRTOUT-RR-A-SAINTPAUL-MN">Renew</a> or <a href="https://www.aarp.org/benefits-discounts/my-membership/print-your-card/">Print Card</a></div> </div> </div> <style> .membership-tout {padding:16px 20px;} .membership-tout .list li { margin: 0; } </style> <div aria-hidden="true" class="aarpe-ad-wrapper"> <div class="aarpe-ad en clearfix" id="300x250_93505" data-adsize="300x250"> <script type="text/javascript"> if(typeof AARP.ads !== 'undefined'){ AARP.ads.slots({ id:'300x250_93505', size:'300x250'}); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="module-spacer text-center"> <div class="fb-page" alt="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" title="Image of AARP Minnesota Facebook Page" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" data-tabs="timeline" width="320" height="" data-small-header="false" data-adapt-container-width="true" data-hide-cover="false" data-show-facepile="true" lazy="true"> <blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota">Facebook</a></blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="ar-basic-box module-spacer"> <header> <h2>Contact AARP <br />in the Twin Cities</h2> </header> <div class="wrap"> <div class="ar-quick-list module-spacer"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-envelope" alt="Email icon" title="Email icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="mailto:mnaarp@aarp.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mnaarp@aarp.org</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-globe" alt="Globe icon" title="Globe icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/region/minnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AARP Minnesota</a></li> <li><i class="list-icon fa fa-map-marker" alt="Map Marker icon" title="Map Marker icon" aria-hidden="true"></i><a href="https://states.aarp.org/contact-aarp-minnesota/?intcmp=SNG-LNK-AARPLOCAL-CONTACT-20140101-SAINTPAUL-MN" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </div> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AARPMinnesota" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Facebook"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/facebook-dreamstale25.png" alt="Facebook icon" title="Facebook icon"></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/aarpmn" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Twitter"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/responsive/icons/48/x-logo-black.png" alt="Twitter icon" title="Twitter icon"></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aarpminnesota/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="Open Instagram"><img src="https://cdn-aarp.americantowns.com/img/icon-ig.png" alt="Instagram icon" title="Instagram icon" style="height: 49px;"></a> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="col-md-8 left-rail left-bot"></div> <div class="col-md-4 right-rail right-bot thin-rhs"></div> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> </div> <div class="row oneColumnLayout"> <div class="col-md-12"><!-- script to activate navbar --> <script type="text/javascript"> jQuery(".channelBarMain ul.left li a").click(function() { window.location = jQuery(this).attr('href'); }); </script> </div> </div> ' $scripts_for_layout = '<title>Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?</title> <meta name="page_title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow"/> <meta content="In 2020, scammers stole more than $110,000 from a Hennepin County couple in their 80s—clearing out their bank accounts and an inheritance—with claims of" name="description"/> <meta content="Minnesota, Could, State, Restitution, Fund, Help, Fraud, Victims" name="keywords"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://states.aarp.org/minnesota/state-restitution-fund-fraud-victims" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://vccstaging.local.aarp.org/news/minnesota-could-a-state-restitution-fund-help-fraud-victims-mn-2024-03-01.html"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Minnesota: Could a State Restitution Fund Help Fraud Victims?"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Americans reported $9 billion in losses to fraud in 2022—from fake sweepstakes to romance scams. In the current legislative session, AARP Minnesota is"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://aarp-states.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/33c0468/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5868x3772+0+96/resize/420x270!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Faarp-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fstates%2Fa3%2F50%2Ff18bd0a30e488f99adcbf1f72e11%2Fgettyimages-547515584-super.jpg"/> :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $title_for_layout = '{local_city_c}, {local_state} Happenings - AARP' $asset_version = '230831' $min = true $nowrapper = false $css = ' :root { --primaryColor: #ff1e3c; --primaryTextColor: #2a2a2a; --linkTextColor: #1f66bd; --linkHoverColor: #1f66bd; --secondaryTextColor: #000000; --secondaryColor2: #000000; --secondaryColor3: #000000; --secondaryColor4: #000000; --secondaryColor5: #000000; --black: #000000; --white: #ffffff; --grey: #f0efed; --gridGutters: 30px; --modulePadding: 60px; --pageWidth: 86.11%; --maxPageWidth: 1240px; --horizontalAlignment: center; --fontFamily: 'Roboto', sans-serif; --headerBackgroundColor:#000000; --headerTextColor:#FFFFFF; --headerHeight:50px; --footerbackgroundColor:#000000; --footerTextColor:#918883; }' $highlighting = '<span class="highlighting">Highlighting Saint Paul</span>' $location = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HOME">Twin Cities, MN</a>' $no_header = false $header_title = '<a href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/">News Feed</a>' $header_subtitle = '' $isPR = false $navbar = '<nav class="section" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapse"> <div class="section-toggle">Sections <i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></div> <ul class="secondary-menu" id="secondary-menu" role="menu" aria-busy="true"> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/aarp-events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-OLE" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Online & Local Events</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/things-to-do/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-TTD" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-THINGSTODO">Things to Do</a></li> <li role="presentation" class="active"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/happenings/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-NF" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HAPPENINGS">News Feed</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/volunteering/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-VOL" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-VOLUNTEERING">Volunteering</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/home-and-community/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HC">Home & Community</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class=""><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem" href="/saint-paul-mn/movies/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MFG" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MOVIESFORGROWNUPS">Movies for Grownups</a> </li> <li role="presentation" class="more nosep " id="submenu-more"> <span role="menuitem" class="menuitem" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MORE">More<i class="fas fa-chevron-down"></i></span> <ul class="secondary-submenu animate slide-in" id="secondary-submenu"> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/discounts/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LO" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-OFFERS">Local Offers</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/local-resources/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-LR" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-LOCALRESOURCES">Local Resources</a> </li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/jobs/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-WJ" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-WORK&JOBS">Work & Jobs</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/events/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-CC" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-EVENTS">Community Calendar</a></li> <!-- <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/healthy-living/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-HEALTHY_LIVING" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-HEALTHY_LIVING">Healthy Living</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/arts-entertainment/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-ARTS_ENT" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-ARTS_ENT">Arts & Entertainment</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a role="menuitem" class="menuitem " href="/saint-paul-mn/museums/?intcmp=CSN-LOCAL-NAV-MUSEUMS" data-formelementid="LOCAL-LNK-CLK-MUSEUMS">Museums</a></li> --> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav>' $header_custom = '' $breadcrumbs = array( (int) 0 => array( 'title' => 'News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) ) $row = array( 'title' => 'Back to News Feed', 'slug' => 'happenings' ) $i = (int) 0include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 include - APP/View/Layouts/aarp_2023.ctp, line 244 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::renderLayout() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 546 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 481 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 963 AppController::renderPage() - APP/Controller/AppController.php, line 136 BlogsController::display() - APP/Controller/BlogsController.php, line 81 ReflectionMethod::invokeArgs() - [internal], line ?? Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 491 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 193 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 118