Minnesota AG Keith Ellison touts anti-scamming efforts amid state’s multi-billion-dollar Somali fraud scandal

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing backlash after posting a video bragging about his office’s efforts against scammers, as critics pointed to large-scale fraud schemes that occurred in the state during his tenure, primarily among the immigrant Somali community.

“Scammers thought Minnesotans were easy targets. They were wrong,” Ellison wrote on X. “From student loan scams to fake utility callers, we shut them down this year — fast.”

The post included a video portraying Ellison as a boxer, with the attorney general describing how he had “fought” scammers in the state.

“If you plan to scam Minnesotans, think again. You’re stepping into the wrong ring,” Ellison said in the video, pointing at the camera.

Critics quickly responded, noting that Minnesota has been at the center of several massive fraud cases. Additionally, Ellison was one of several Democratic lawmakers in the state, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Rep. Ilhan Omar, who received over $53,000 in campaign contributions from fraudsters with the nonprofit Feed Our Future, which stole roughly $250 million in taxpayer dollars.

Fraud has been a persistent issue in the state, particularly among the Somali community, with federal prosecutors recently suggesting that total fraud within Minnesota’s Medicaid program alone could reach as much as $9 billion.

"The magnitude of fraud in Minnesota cannot be overstated. It’s staggering amounts of money that have been lost," First Assistant US Attorney Joe Thompson said.

President Donald Trump has also criticized Minnesota’s leadership, calling the state a “hub of fraudulent money laundering activity,” as numerous individuals have been convicted in connection with fraud schemes operating there.