[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6641325,"mediaKeyId","2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4","parentId",2543299,"title","Lawmakers press AG on deed theft, title fraud and state agency coordination","audioSeconds",1580,"startMs",1560000,"endMs",3140000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4&start=1560&end=3140","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4/thumbnail_1560000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641325/Minnesota/Lawmakers-press-AG-on-deed-theft-title-fraud-and-state-agency-coordination","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641325-e0b70740becf83d60ea7f569183dd573/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140715&Signature=IIaiuoRkfkh-LfQgDP~~k7HiPNTsVHjz3U2TVJMjXfN~n6nKCBXJbML7xdDT5z5hjggHwUDxPl16RghUubPvxJRs~OG1GQYpeVPZcI7vfEk4y7riszhEzrRlb69aszD5UQmDLkd2NTiMRQA0sa2KmeUK3VoBpMXXvEogYYFuc9d0iq0F70BAyXvt3H-j6URWd34m~hhQ2W~VwfAIbMjHxo6ccUgZ8MrQKwWcUgXg3vMXJfUi-0UVEi9pUIDErA6pvqHiOoevkLmIaYSyKWVwm6XA3BZrOHYGBlqSRF0AGNyvp0IKqYse~oAEjKZ0NXw3rklIjt5yD0BwLGkUC65u9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-03-11T16:53:46.51Z","article","Members of the House Commerce and Finance Policy Committee pressed Attorney General Keith Ellison and Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney on March 11 about deed theft, false liens and scams that target homeowners’ titles.

Ellison told the committee the office regards deed theft as a serious problem that has received increased attention but said it has not yet received a high volume of direct complaints from Minnesota residents. Deputy Whitney said deed fraud appears more prevalent on the U.S. coasts but that “I think it's moving our way.” She described the issue as closely tied to identity theft and public online records that make it easier for bad actors to find targets.

Committee members also raised concerns about fragmentation across state agencies. Representative Hewitt described a multi‑agency complaint involving a “builder gone bad” and asked whether state offices operate in silos. Ellison and Whitney said the agencies and the AG’s office regularly consult; they noted, however, that before a matter reaches litigation the file may remain within an agency and the AG’s office might not be aware of it until the agency seeks civil litigation support. Ellison said: “If the complaint was made, somebody's working on it. I just need to know a little bit more about it to even give you an idea of where we are in the process.”

Why it matters: Deed fraud and false liens can lock homeowners out of property rights or saddle them with encumbrances. Committee members stressed the need to reduce shame and underreporting and to consider whether investigative responsibilities should be centralized or better coordinated among agencies; Representative Elkins and others asked whether the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) should handle fraud investigations rather than multiple agencies.

Ellison offered to supplement the committee with a more detailed briefing and to follow up on whether the AG’s office has received specific deed‑fraud complaints referenced by members. He also said the office and agency partners meet regularly and sometimes hire third‑party administrators for complex restitution or claims distributions when large numbers of victims are involved.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members raised concerns about deed‑theft and false liens; Attorney General Ellison and Deputy Whitney said the problem is growing, currently complaint‑driven, and that agencies and the AG’s office coordinate but siloing can occur before litigation starts.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6641330,"AG Ellison cites John Deere, AgriStats and Google suits as antitrust priorities",108,1837000,1945000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4&start=1837&end=1945","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4/thumbnail_1837000.jpg","/articles/6641330/Minnesota/AG-Ellison-cites-John-Deere-AgriStats-and-Google-suits-as-antitrust-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641330-64f200c65cbfca566d8108c13b3514a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140715&Signature=DY5mmpOVkJZkG~QrdbxL~-xmo7qRsPNgbgJ9tsyTA2rzqEL-94D2oaWuU4YBcyXR924nr0bw-YX3oPPxLjmwXKD38e6NwyDHSakqI0kGMPMKZ-I-grpHdlyrAhs54oGalWfmFvmaXu0X2gYSh7gaose7btmFVjptTC8WNB2Aao4ZxVQsMNpMxqYrScB~9WtIpaBd7EF5MZNWVaXMY1utvaKsZ6k42oxLS2cddi1NK5Ys0R411-WsV92DIfobGoiwVtd19oyO7lj4GvwhHliOcv~101UJtl450HydOM-p7k94SehSYvgDJ~knsRyob2x~6hYWtC0Jux5Ao3Mp2MJFNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Attorney General Keith Ellison told the House Commerce and Finance Policy Committee on March 11 that antitrust enforcement is a central part of the office’s consumer mission, with agriculture and technology singled out as enforcement priorities.

Ellison said the office recently sued Deere & Company (John Deere) alleging practices that raise repair costs and limit farmers’ ability to perform timely equipment repairs on tractors and other critical machinery. He also said Minnesota led a bipartisan coalition in a 2023 lawsuit against AgriStats alleging coordinated information exchanges among broiler, pork and turkey processors that increased consumer prices.

Ellison described participation with a 38‑state coalition and the federal government in litigation against Google. He told the committee a federal judge agreed with the coalition that Google is a monopoly, and said the office will continue to use antitrust and consumer‑protection laws to lower prices and increase market competitiveness for Minnesotans.

Why it matters: Antitrust cases can reshape market behavior in critical sectors—Ellison highlighted agriculture and tech as examples where state enforcement can protect consumers, workers and farmers.

Ellison said the office seeks remedies that restore competition and limit conduct that raises costs for end users; the AG asked small businesses and farmers to submit complaints if they believe anticompetitive conduct is occurring.","The attorney general told the committee Minnesota is pursuing antitrust enforcement in agriculture and technology, including lawsuits against John Deere over repair practices, an AgriStats information‑exchange case, and coordinated litigation against Google.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6641334,"Minnesota AG details wage‑theft enforcement, recent suits and recoveries",175,1215000,1390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4&start=1215&end=1390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4/thumbnail_1215000.jpg","/articles/6641334/Minnesota/Minnesota-AG-details-wagetheft-enforcement-recent-suits-and-recoveries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641334-20df3d855e1fe556036c003c476ba78a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140715&Signature=GmKmBgCQVKxcvrZw1VbF9n6QIdKzfG8BwurIVI6UK8qt0sZhMT2iF43to7RO34sol9NI07SVMYXDAQFBBUQekl-5qIwaWMWLiLC6idrGCHJOjYZh6miRpD4S1iwQcPFGKt1zZd71ygb8E0z0uHeM1pAZtXWO0AmLK-8cIqf1RjGcgmqGjIeHeeS5a7LpA94eyXN1Qv26gAUrBcP0AotMb8DU8tsOkEG151BOnVJjAsfTUO2ETIWEYvbPTXI~feN7KpLuzicPlw~DE~sJcvDTIwVqMWIgeVSkBFI1aUWguyNp9jQ2riNbVEs7sPqBDb-9TYCXRZTv8N2Hl5j46nXlLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Attorney General Keith Ellison told the Commerce and Finance Policy Committee on March 11 that his office created a dedicated wage‑theft division in 2019 after the legislature granted new authority, and that the division has recovered more than $2,000,000 in improperly withheld wages for Minnesota workers.

Ellison described typical wage‑theft practices his office prosecutes: paying below minimum wage, off‑the‑clock work, unpaid overtime, unlawful paycheck deductions, failure to provide final pay, and misclassifying employees as independent contractors. He said wage theft harms both workers and law‑abiding employers.

Recent cases Ellison cited:
- Evergreen Acres (dairy employer): suit alleges systematic shaving of regular and overtime hours, unlawful deductions for substandard on‑site housing and failure to pay wages at termination.
- Shipt (2022): lawsuit alleging misclassification of shoppers as independent contractors rather than employees entitled to wage and hour protections.
- A 2023 suit against a downtown Saint Paul landowner alleging use of subsidiaries to avoid paying overtime to security officers.

Ellison said the wage‑theft division was created with bipartisan legislative support and that the office sues when investigations uncover systemic employer misconduct. The division’s recoveries to date exceed $2 million, he said, and it works in tandem with agency investigations where appropriate.","Attorney General Keith Ellison said his office created a wage‑theft division in 2019 and has returned more than $2 million to workers through enforcement, citing recent lawsuits against Evergreen Acres, Shipt and other firms.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6641337,"Minnesota AG warns scams are evolving: social media, gift cards and crypto hamper recoveries",2672,298000,2970000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4&start=298&end=2970","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4/thumbnail_298000.jpg","/articles/6641337/Minnesota/Minnesota-AG-warns-scams-are-evolving-social-media-gift-cards-and-crypto-hamper-recoveries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641337-d085bb1fc888b9464aadf3221d3edb7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140715&Signature=jDqph8W2rGphTH5BwzRE4KtW6Krd8UMJPzV-rLqH6b48jnv8tm0lBXw5QTzIw5VnbXgjEOGc2URCuBhL9f~5eam5dNWzMYC8i8QR7Qp6I5e9uO-TKg7~G-Fy76aptoHWVNU2WMK3Omxe0AxCWgbn3UEK18Hhc7NJrMyPdFufGtwuvE5iL4Ms3-QTy9i-YkuAIGuG5FiXir~WhUBTA2jbZtEcnwi~qS1JzVHoHS6otMQRRRcdE4awHtsmd7TfWB9q0wIIMA8smbOL2opNv8AB4ONm87PeItVvrvjat7F5Y0rI4vREL115qk3rdS8xrdL~MpXx18TQI6PqVLKpWWwo-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Attorney General Keith Ellison and Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney briefed the House Commerce and Finance Policy Committee on March 11 about changes in scam activity, how fraud methods are shifting, and the practical limits of consumer recovery.

Ellison said national consumer data show large aggregate losses: “In 2023, consumers reported losing nearly $10,000,000,000 to fraud,” he said, citing Federal Trade Commission figures. He added that “consumer losses facilitated by social media, totaled 1,400,000,000 in 2023,” and that imposter scams remain common. Whitney described a long‑running pattern of younger cohorts being targeted via online channels and noted new pressures from deep‑fake and AI technologies.

Why it matters: The office said scams are lucrative for perpetrators and inexpensive to operate, which sustains high volumes. When payments move through gift cards or cryptocurrency, or when actors operate outside U.S. jurisdiction, recoveries become difficult or impossible without cross‑border law enforcement cooperation.

Key points from testimony:
- Younger adults (30–39) now report more frequent incidents, while older adults (60–69) tend to lose larger sums. Deputy Whitney: “The devastation that fraud... is with the older folks because it takes their life savings out.”
- The AG’s office is complaint driven: “We are a complaint driven system,” Ellison said, and encouraged Minnesotans to report scams through the consumer action number he provided.
- Cross‑border scams present enforcement challenges. Ellison said the office coordinates with Interpol, the FBI and the National Association of Attorneys General on international tracing.
- Methods and money flows shift over time: the office has seen scams move from wire transfers and Western Union, to gift cards, and increasingly to cryptocurrency and bitcoin ATMs.

Recovery and policy options discussed: Deputy Whitney described an idea presented by AARP and others—a dedicated consumer restitution fund seeded from civil penalties that could be used to restitute victims in cases where defendants are unreachable or outside U.S. jurisdiction. She said some sister states are exploring similar approaches and that Minnesota legislators have introduced related proposals.

Committee members asked about recovery rates for large losses and whether the AG’s office tracks full restitution versus partial recoveries. Ellison said the office tracks whether it obtains recoveries but did not have in‑hand aggregate return‑rates for life‑savings losses from international scams; he offered to provide data later.

The AG’s office also highlighted outreach and prevention: it has launched senior education efforts, recommended consumer education in schools, and urged more public reporting to reduce shame‑based underreporting.","Attorney General Keith Ellison and Deputy Jessica Whitney told lawmakers that scams are increasingly sophisticated, often originate overseas, and that recoveries depend on traceability and consumer reporting; they suggested policy options including a dedicated restitution fund.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6641340,"Minnesota attorney general outlines consumer‑protection work, hotline and case volumes",983,162000,1145000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4&start=162&end=1145","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2543299-7ed72758c5a27b7e5af48faac5a0c3d4/thumbnail_162000.jpg","/articles/6641340/Minnesota/Minnesota-attorney-general-outlines-consumerprotection-work-hotline-and-case-volumes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641340-a62dc5c4be5f4a1a52721b2c295aaa3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140715&Signature=CftM7PVMaYAwBKCJZGAk7hsbfnTh0NcVP~ZPJojGtMJKnt8-UmrOckoKSMjHO5qJ0ElFkUn4ctx8MhKWxIAZtl6nxQhWwGIiwqBnLhPsOSsB0hUJZinmkMcjItGcQZWjiQl2YjeVsWDdTFpJmZ8GZJJgz7M9E0rYvXvINyBqfXBLFCtNSKUi1NB8AQICV5MgeM8z-cvaSzfoJSN9tWMcWdUFG9vLM9vCQ4lnFqqOX~iqyhUpgyDo~D2cyV9kTH06j07wHsoQm1Q4igt7IHv7cfwiPNQpqAJzZKJtmEp2VrdDzI1F~Wd2-syK3ihu3QLUpPAOI8rUosHZXRpwpRFcaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Attorney General Keith Ellison told the House Commerce and Finance Policy Committee on March 11 that the Office of the Attorney General operates four main lines of business—representing state agencies, supporting criminal prosecutions and Medicaid fraud matters, serving on state boards, and enforcing Minnesota's consumer protection, antitrust and charities laws.

Ellison said the office’s consumer help line remains the public’s first point of contact. “If you call that number, somebody from the consumer action division is gonna pick up the phone,” he said, and he provided the committee the office’s complaint line: (651) 296‑3353. He described the office as “the people’s lawyer” whose work aims to help Minnesotans “afford their lives and live with dignity, safety and respect.”

Why it matters: The consumer action division fields tens of thousands of public contacts each year and resolves many cases before litigation. Those interactions both inform enforcement priorities and return money to consumers without protracted court proceedings.

Ellison gave committee members a snapshot of the office’s workload and outcomes for 2024: the consumer action division handled 59,017 calls and about 5,984 staff hours (equivalent to roughly 249 staff days). The division opened more than 18,000 cases (a roughly 20% increase from the prior fiscal year) and, Ellison said, secured about $14,000,000 in settlements for Minnesota consumers (more than a 50% increase year over year).

Ellison also summarized how the office is organized: the consumer protection section is overseen by two deputies (Jessica Whitney and James Canaday), split into eight specialized divisions, and includes a consumer action unit staffed by non‑attorney personnel who help callers with questions, direct complaints, and locate other government resources when appropriate.

The attorney general emphasized that the office’s consumer enforcement work operates in both cooperative and complaint‑driven modes. “We are a complaint driven system,” Ellison told the committee. He said the office may open investigations based on consumer complaints, pursue coordinated enforcement with other state and federal agencies, or litigate high‑priority cases when necessary.

The presentation also noted coordinated, multi‑state enforcement partnerships with the Federal Trade Commission, Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on matters ranging from deceptive marketing to data privacy and junk fees. Ellison said those partnerships and legislative changes in 2024 — including the Debt Fairness Act and new rules on price transparency and deceptive vaping — helped shape the office’s caseload.

Ellison concluded by stressing often overlooked consumer work: ratepayer representation at the Public Utilities Commission. He said the office regularly intervenes to oppose or limit utility rate increases because “everybody pays these bills,” and that those issues can have significant effects on Minnesotans on fixed incomes.

Ellison and Deputy Attorney General Jessica Whitney offered to supplement the record with additional data at the committee’s request.","Attorney General Keith Ellison told the House Commerce and Finance Policy Committee the Attorney General's Office handles consumer protection, antitrust and charities enforcement, runs a consumer action hotline and returned millions to Minnesotans through investigations and settlements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers press AG on deed theft, title fraud and state agency coordination

AG Ellison cites John Deere, AgriStats and Google suits as antitrust priorities

Minnesota AG details wage‑theft enforcement, recent suits and recoveries

Minnesota AG warns scams are evolving: social media, gift cards and crypto hamper recoveries

Minnesota attorney general outlines consumer‑protection work, hotline and case volumes