fraud Archives - Page 3 of 5

Minnesota man targeted in meals fraud probe faces passport charge

April 22, 2022

Jim Monk,

MINNEAPOLIS – A Twin Cities area man who authorities say is a target in a sweeping investigation into alleged fraud in a student meals program has been arrested on a passport charge. Federal prosecutors say 49-year-old Mohamed Jama Ismail of Savage, Minnesota was charged with making a false statement when he applied for a new passport in March – after…

North Dakota oil executive sentenced to prison for fraud

April 8, 2022

Jim Monk,

BISMARCK, N.D. – A former North Dakota oilfield executive whose false claims about his company’s value resulted in more than $886 million in shareholder losses has been sentenced to three years in federal prison and ordered to pay back $406 million. The government had asked for a 20-year sentence for 61-year-old Joseph Kostelecky before his sentencing hearing. Kostelecky, of Dickinson,…

Minnesota farmer sentenced to prison for farm loan fraud

April 4, 2022

Jim Monk,

MINNEAPOLIS (KVRR) – A Slayton, Minnesota, man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution for converting collateral that secured loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger says 54-year-old Mark Alan Engelkes pledged 15,641 bushels of soybeans as collateral in order to obtain loan proceeds of…

Police in Grand Forks Continue To Warn of Scams As Calls Keep Coming In

May 23, 2021

TJ Nelson,

GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Police in Grand Forks are pleading with people to not give out banking or personal information to anyone that is unknown to you. The department continues to take numerous reports daily of people falling victim to scams. They recommend that you not send cash in the mail or by other services. They say legitimate businesses will…

Sen. Amy Klobuchar stops in Moorhead to address scams targeting seniors

Tips on how to avoid falling victim to a scam are below

April 8, 2021

Site Staff,

MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson address a problem that’s grown exponentially throughout the pandemic: scams targeting seniors. “This is on the rise once again and it could get worse,” Klobuchar said at a press conference Thursday morning. Older Americans lose an estimated $3 billion every year from financial scams, according to AARP. The…

District Election Officer for North Dakota To Monitor Election Day Fraud

October 21, 2020

TJ Nelson,

FARGO, N.D. — The Justice Department is ready to respond to reports of voter fraud and other misdeeds on Election Day. Rick Volk will serve as the District Election Officer for North Dakota and handle complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses. He will be in contact with the Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C. It is part of…

3M files 18 lawsuits over alleged unlawful N95 mask sales

July 17, 2020

KVRR Staff,

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. (AP)–The leading manufacturer of N95 masks in the U.S. says it has investigated 4,000 reports of fraud, counterfeiting and price gouging in connection with the product and filed 18 lawsuits as a result. 3M, based in Maplewood, is among the largest global producers of the N95 mask, which has been approved by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational…

Employers Asked to Lookout for Fraudulent Unemployment Claims

Multiple fraudulent claims have been identified in North Dakota because employers notified Job Service.

May 19, 2020

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BISMARCK, N.D.–Job Service North Dakota is asking employers to be on the lookout for fraudulent unemployment insurance claims. An increase in fraudulent claims has been noted across the country, North Dakota included. Job Service North Dakota says, “Although fraudulent attempts to receive unemployment insurance benefits happen regularly, periods of disaster which result in a large volume of unemployment insurance claims…

FBI Sees Spike In Online Scams Related To COVID-19

The FBI says they had around 2.7 billion dollars in losses from cyber crime last year.

April 22, 2020

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UNITED STATES – While overall cyber activity has been no different than what FBI agents would see on a normal day, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a new worry. “So we’ll see scams that are trying to sell fraudulent medical equipment, we’ll see scams that are trying to get people to buy testing or vaccines for COVID that don’t exist….

Woman Involved In Jamaican Lottery Scam Is Sentenced To Prison

At least 90 Americans lost over $5.7 million in the scheme which funneled money between the U.S. and Jamaica

July 10, 2019

TJ Nelson,

FARGO, ND — It’s sentencing day for a Rhode Island woman convicted in North Dakota as part of a major lottery fraud. Judge Daniel Hovland sentenced Melinda Bulgin of Providence to four years in prison and restitution of around $330,000. At least 90 Americans lost over $5.7 million in the scheme which funneled money between the U.S. and Jamaica. The…