This week on At Issue, Leah McLean fills in for Tom Hauser in the studio.
As federal prosecutors bring more fraud charges against those suspected of stealing taxpayer money in Minnesota, a common theme among the defendants persists.
A 5 INVESTIGATES review of federal fraud charges against 106 people found 92 names of Somali descent.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS spoke with Dr. Ahmed Samatar, professor and Chair of International Studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, to ask why such a disproportionate number of those charged with fraud are of Somali descent, a question he says should be asked.
Also discussed are the latest SurveyUSA Polls, which have found that Minnesotans have low approval ratings for President Trump, Governor Walz, and the war in Iran. Other polls look at who is leading the Senate and Gubernatorial Primaries, and who Minnesotans feel is responsible for fraud in their state.
This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.