Fear, shame, and helplessness are feelings Minnesota fraud victims describe after losing their life savings to a scam.
They're hopeful about a path to financial recovery as state lawmakers finalize a new tool to lean on.
Under a bill poised for final passage, Minnesota would join a handful of other states in creating a Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund.
A percentage of money collected from civil penalties leveled against suspected fraudsters would be diverted into a state-managed account.
That money would be divvied up among people who've had trouble recovering money in their cases.
Dennis Anderson of Maplewood told lawmakers that was the situation for him.
"It can happen to anyone," said Anderson. "Scammers exploit emotions and fears, robbing us from our financial security."
Anderson lost $20,000 after getting a frantic call from someone posing as his grandson about a legal matter.
The legislation is now part of a large omnibus bill as lawmakers near the end of session.
The measure has bipartisan support, although some Republicans want more transparency in how the money is handled. Sponsors say the plan has enough guardrails.
State Senator Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, is the bill's main sponsor.
She said those guardrails include caps on how much money can go into the restitution fund, before the rest is moved into the general fund.
She noted that they also added language that a victim who receives restitution won't have to list it on their tax return. Rest said it's one way to make them feel better moving on from what happened.
"People lose their dignity over it," said Rest. "Sometimes they have risked a lot of their retirement income. They feel embarrassed, and by having a restitution account, it allows some restoration of that dignity."
AARP Minnesota worked closely with lawmakers on this plan.
It highlights data from the first three quarters of 2024, when the Federal Trade Commission received more than 22,000 fraud reports from Minnesotans, with losses totaling nearly $103 million.
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Destructive storms with wind gusts over 100 miles per hour knocked out power for tens of thousands of northwestern Minnesotans in and around Bemidji on Saturday, June 21.
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Plus: Extreme heat and possible severe weather could be in store for much of the Northland over the weekend; Carlos Hernandez was narrowly elected Bois Forte chairman in a special election on June 17, 2025; the Minnesota DNR and Brainerd Lakes Area Master Naturalists will hold an AIS workshop; Eveleth received a $200K grant to upgrade a city playground; Beltrami County will begin work on a new shared-use trail near Bemidji High School; and MnDOT crews are making progress on planned construction near Hackensack and Wadena.
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Following the shooting attack that left Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark dead on June 14, 2025, their adult children issued a statement urging residents to honor their parents' memories by giving back.
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Events this week include Karaoke for a Cause in Grand Rapids, Pride Month in the Park in Brainerd, Lake Bemidji State Park pint night and kids' fishing day in Marcell.
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Plus: MnDOT will host a listening session at the Fosston High School Gymnasium on June 23, 2025, ahead of planned construction on Highway 2; the Minnesota DNR is seeking a wide range of perspectives for fisheries input groups on Lake Winnie and Rainy Lake; and animal experts urge pet owners to remain vigilant during bouts of Canadian wildfire smoke.
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KAXE's weekly list of concerts near you features Stella Standingbear, Annie Humphrey, Thomas X, GB Leighton and The Jorgensons, the Virginia Sisters, Between Howls and more.
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In the phenology report for June 17, 2025, KAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer discusses nesting turtles and how northern plants adapt to a short summer season.
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And: Heintzeman, other Northern Minnesotans on water stewardship task force; federal cuts could hurt one of Greater Minnesota’s leading industries; local women elected officials feature in Beltrami County panel; and St. Louis County crafting new traffic safety plan.
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The Beltrami County Historical Society will present “Women Elected to Lead: Voices from Local Government” on Saturday in Bemidji.
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St. Louis County is building a new safety action plan for county roads outside Duluth. The public can share safety concerns and suggestions.