The head of the Minnesota agency overseeing $100 million in small business grants says fraudsters are targeting the program, highlighting the need for multiple layers of protection in an interview with 5 INVESTIGATES.
RELATED: Eligibility questions spark calls to suspend Minnesota’s $100 million ‘promise’ to small businesses
Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Matt Varilek said in an interview Tuesday that while safeguards are in place for the Minnesota Promise Act, they are not foolproof.
“People are targeting this program for fraud,” Varilek said. “That is unquestionable.”
For months, 5 INVESTIGATES has raised questions about whether some of those taxpayer dollars are going where they were intended. The investigation identified multiple businesses that received thousands of dollars in state grants despite appearing to operate miles away from qualifying…
Scammers capitalize on major disasters or heart-wrenching stories to solicit donations for non-existent charities. They often use names that are very similar to well-known, legitimate organizations to confuse donors.