Minnesota CUs Join Fight Against Lottery Fraud

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota CU Network joined with several other groups in the state in an effort to combat expanding lottery and sweepstakes fraud. Residents all over Minnesota are being swindled in phony lotteries or sweepstakes. The MnCUN says such scams are responsible for an estimated $8 million to $10 million in losses to Minnesotans. The league has joined with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, AARP, Better Business Bureau, Minnesota Board of Aging and the Minnesota Bankers Association to raise awareness and facilitate better communication. The league will be collecting information from state credit unions that can be entered into a database with other, similar information. The coalition is targeting fraud that asks potential victims to send in payment to receive a prize or enter a drawing for a prize.