Minnesota’s taxpayer fraud has surged to $9B, with new cases involving housing scams, crypto fraud, and rising fraud tourism.
Minnesota’s taxpayer fraud has increased from $8 billion to over $9 billion, according to prosecutor Joe Thompson and CBS News.
An audit of 14 Medicaid programs reveales that over half of the funds were tied to fraudulent activities.
Recently, five new defendants face charges in connection with these crimes, highlighting a growing issue in the state.
New Defendants Charged in Fraud Cases
Five new defendants have been charged as part of Minnesota’s ongoing fraud investigation. Two individuals were involved in housing scams, defrauding $750,000, while another is accused of using $1.4 million to invest in cryptocurrency.
These cases highlight the increasing sophistication of fraudulent activities in the state.
WATCH: Assistant US Attorney Joe Thompson says Minnesota is becoming a tourist destination — for fraudsters.
“This fraud tourism is new … these defendants came here not to enjoy our lakes, our beautiful summers or our warm people.
They came here because they knew and… pic.twitter.com/buJUi4GGbG
— Anthony Gockowski (@AntGockowski) December 19, 2025
Criminals are increasingly targeting Minnesota’s Medicaid programs, taking advantage of vulnerabilities in the system. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson noted that the growing number of fraud schemes is a significant concern for officials.
The state is grappling with the scale of these crimes, which often involve large sums of money that are difficult to trace. As fraudsters continue to exploit the system, Minnesota faces mounting challenges in safeguarding taxpayer funds.
Fraud Tourism on the Rise in Minnesota
Fraud tourism is a growing problem in Minnesota. This term refers to criminals traveling to the state specifically to take advantage of weak fraud protections. Prosecutor Joe Thompson has pointed out that Minnesota is becoming a hotspot for fraudsters seeking easy opportunities.
Minnesota’s taxpayer fraud has escalated from $8B to over $9B, per prosecutor Joe Thompson and CBS News. Audit of 14 Medicaid programs ($18B since 2018) reveals over half fraudulent. Five new defendants charged: two profited $750K on housing scams, one $1.4M used for crypto,… pic.twitter.com/XG8uBhajo7
— ꪻꫝể ꪻꫝể (@TheThe1776) December 20, 2025
Two individuals from Philadelphia were recently arrested for participating in fraud tourism.
They traveled to Minnesota with the sole intent of exploiting the state’s systems. Thompson explained that these criminals know the risks are low and the rewards high.
Fraud tourism adds another layer of complexity to Minnesota’s fraud problem. Criminals are increasingly choosing Minnesota for its relatively weak enforcement of fraud laws.
As this trend is growing, officials face more challenges in stopping these crimes.
Related Reading: AI Romance Scams Return As Bitcoin Investor Loses Entire Retirement Fund
Cryptocurrency Fraud on the Rise
Cryptocurrency is increasingly has use in fraud schemes, including in Minnesota. One recent defendant allegedly used $1.4 million in stolen funds to invest in crypto.
This trend is raising concerns about the difficulty of tracking illicit funds in the digital space.
The use of cryptocurrency in fraud cases is becoming more common. Digital currencies are harder to trace than traditional forms of money, making it difficult for authorities to track illegal activity. This complicates efforts to stop fraud and return stolen funds.
Authorities are working to understand cryptocurrency’s role in fraud schemes. As digital currencies become more popular, criminals are finding new ways to hide their illicit activities. Law enforcement will need to adapt to this growing challenge.
Minnesota’s fraud crisis continues to escalate, with the rise of fraud tourism and cryptocurrency usage complicating efforts to protect taxpayer funds.
As the state battles these growing issues, it remains clear that more needs to happen to stop these criminals.