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Sophisticated scam mimics Mounds View city employees
The city says it’s making changes after people were targeted using their personal information on public documents included in its online meeting agendas.
A highly sophisticated scam is hitting Mounds View and appearing to come directly from city officials.
The city says it’s fake and targeting your personal information from public records it posts in its online meeting agendas and that it’s now making changes.
Nathan Dornquast’s information was included because he was in the midst of seeking final approval from the city to buy a parcel of land behind his house.
He says hours before that meeting he received an email from the city that included its logo, employee names and an invoice for $10,000 to settle the sale of the property.
“The $10,000 threw me because it was three times the cost of what I had already paid and it was last minute and it’s coming from the city and planning commission,” said Dornquast. “I mean, I was taken.”
Dornquast didn’t fall for the scam. He’s been an information technologist for 30 years, but despite his deep industry knowledge, Dornquast was surprised at how specific the scam was.
“The question is how was this put together, how was this incorporated, how was this done,” said Dornquast. “Are there individuals doing this or are we starting to see an uglier side of new technology, specifically is somebody leveraging artificial intelligence to help put together thousands of these transactions?”
“Clearly these bad actors are taking advantage of government transparency requirements and given the detail of this specific scam, I would not be surprised if the bad guys were leveraging AI to some extent,” said Mark Lanterman, a longtime cyber security expert who leads Computer Forensic Services.
Lanterman is reminding people to slow down, contact the organization directly and never click on any links. One clue in Dornquast’s case is the email wasn’t associated with an account tied to the city.
“Whenever you receive a request for something of value, whether that’s money, whether that’s information, take a deep breath, read it again, and if you’re still hesitant, pick up the phone,” said Lanterman.
“I had no suspicion that it was fraudulent until I emailed several people I had been working within the city,” said Dornquast.
The city says two other people were targeted, but they did not fall for the fake email either. It’s since started removing people’s names, phone numbers and emails from public documents. It can’t remove addresses because that’s public record.
The Mounds View Police Department is also aware and while it took reports, is not actively investigating due to the email’s unknown origin and not enough resources.
Dornquast says he also submitted an inquiry to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“I would be shocked if Mounds View, Minnesota was the only place this was happening,” said Dornquast.
Cameron Wright sang at MSP Airport on Wednesday, just a day after his final Voice performance aired on NBC.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s Cameron Wright has been eliminated from NBC’s The Voice, but their voice serenaded the nearly 31,000 people who passed through TSA checkpoints Wednesday in Terminal 1 alone.
Just as they did on The Voice, Wright hit intricate vocal riffs and held long notes in an MSP Airport concert on Wednesday. It comes less than a day after Wright’s final Voice performance aired. That elimination, however, happened longer ago.
During intermission, Wright shared some of the insider info.
“This has almost been like a year-long process,” they said. “I know it seems like it’s a few weeks on TV, but it’s been a year almost. I’m just super grateful.”
Born in St. Louis and raised in north Minneapolis, Wright is considered the first openly non-binary singer to make it to the Voice Playoffs.
“It never was my goal to like be … the beacon, but it does feel very – it’s an honor that people are being inspired by me just being myself,” said Wright, who was on team Michael Bublé.
As well as inspiration, Wright provided holiday cheer in the airport concert.
One family from Boise, Idaho, had a five-hour layover at MSP and was on the way to Uganda for an annual mission trip. One of the daughters was carrying a guitar.
“We were just sitting and then we were blessed with an amazing free concert … The pianist, they both – you could tell they put a lot of practice in,” the Thomas family told KARE.
For those who missed the performance and still have an upcoming flight, there are more opportunities to catch live music. Through its Arts@MSP program, Airport Foundation MSP provides more than 1,000 performances per year. There are 50 performances per week over the holiday season involving 20 rotating artists.
One such artist is jazz musician David Billingsley, who performs at the airport weekly and has known Wright since childhood.
“Cameron is one of the best singers of our generation in our time,” Billingsley said. “People are now discovering what we knew in Minnesota all along.”
He’s performed all over but says there’s nothing like the airport.
“You have people from all walks of life, all beliefs,” he said. “Everyone gathers around the piano and it’s just a really great time.”
Wright says they performed at MSP last holiday season for the first time.
“It’s just my gift that I get to share, which brings me so much to it,” Wright said.
Officer Jesse Branch and Alan Lussier Jr., a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, were killed in a crash on Wednesday east of the Red Lake Community.
RED LAKE, Minn. — Two people were killed in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday, including an on-duty officer with the Red Lake Police Department.
Officer Jesse Branch and Alan Lussier Jr., a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, were killed in a crash on Highway 1, east of the Red Lake Community, according to a press release from the Red Lake Department of Public Safety.
Several law enforcement agencies across the state have paid tribute to Branch, who, according to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, was responding to a call when the crash occurred.
“Officer Branch was a respected professional officer who loved the community he served,” read a social media post by the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office. “He previously served on the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Posse and had just joined the North Country First Responders. He was supposed to pick up his gear today.”
OUR CONDOLENCES…
We extend our condolences to the family of Red Lake Officer Jesse Branch RL28, the Red Lake Police Department, the Red Lake Nation and the grieving families following a tragic crash this morning near Red Lake. Officer branch was responding to a call at the time of the crash.
Officer Branch was a respected professional officer who loved the community he served. He previously served on the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Posse and had just joined the North Country First Responders. He was supposed to pick up his gear today.
It was our honor to provide the escort through Beltrami County. Thank you for your service and we’ll take it from here.
Posted by Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Gov. Tim Walz also ordered flags immediately be flown at half-staff at state buildings to honor Branch.
“Officer Jesse Branch committed his life to public service. He was known for his love and dedication to Red Lake Nation, where he selflessly served his community,” said Gov. Walz in a statement. “With deep gratitude, Minnesota recognizes Officer Branch. His family, friends, and community are in our prayers.”
John has covered four governors, countless would-be laws and issues — and elections. So many elections.
MINNEAPOLIS — Starting in 1997, a fresh-faced kid from Kansas started popping up on your television screen.
John Croman has covered just about everything you can think of during those 27 years.
The big stories that put a mark on this state — both good and bad.
From the death of Paul Wellstone to the Comfrey tornado to the 35W bridge collapse, John Croman has been a steady stream of reliability and information.
But his strengths go well beyond breaking news.
John joined the investigative team digging deep into important issues, and then the extras unit, but “chief political reporter John Croman” is likely how you remember him.
John has been to national conventions, Iowa caucuses and Washington D.C. He’s been everywhere to cover our Minnesota politicians, but most of the time, his office was the Minnesota State Capitol.
John has covered four governors, countless would-be laws and issues — and elections. So many elections.
He says the most dramatic political story he covered was the Al Franken-Norm Coleman recount, which stretched from November of 2008 to July of 2009.
And the most memorable? The passage of same-sex marriage.
For some, politics may be dry.
The only thing dry about him is his sense of humor.
“He took the work seriously, but he has never taken himself seriously. There’s always a little twinkle in his eye. Hit me. What’s he thinking about? There’ll be some, you know, some video or show up on social media,” said KARE 11’s Boyd Huppert.
“I mean, we all know the ‘bill on Capitol Hill,’ right? But John, in some ways takes it to the next level because he localizes Schoolhouse Rock for us every day. I can’t imagine what our younger employees are like. What is that? Who is that? Why is that?” said KARE 11’s Jana Shortal.
But he’s also the first one to share information, a contact, or context for a story. The ultimate teammate.
“He’s going to be missed. Not just by us, but by the people at the Capitol, because he treats them with respect. And he’s always so well-versed on the issues he’s talking to the politicians about, the wealth of knowledge that he has is irreplaceable.” said KARE 11’s Lou Raguse.
Often his own cameraman and editor, working late and on days off… John is dedicated entirely to his craft.
“I’m sure we’ll have a new political reporter. I’m sure we will never have another John Croman. They just don’t make him like that. He’s one of a kind,” said KARE 11 anchor Julie Nelson.
No, we’ve never lost our hearts, but you can be sure a piece of it walked out the door the day John Croman left.
