Minnesota Attorney General warning of crowdfunding scams tied to ICE activity in Minnesota
Keith Ellison at news conference announcing
Minnesota and Twin Cities
are suing Trump administration over widespread immigration operations
(January 12, 2026 / WCCO & CNN)
ST. PAUL, Min. – Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is warning people of crowdfunding scams purporting to help those impacted by immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota.
The Attorney General’s Office is saying “bad actors” are taking advantage of people’s generosity. The Attorney General’s Office has received complaints about some fundraising efforts.
The Attorney General’s Office gives four pieces of guidance when looking to make any on-line donation:
– Before donating: Research the organizer of the crowdfunding campaign, the cause, and how the money will be used. Do public facts support the organizer’s claims? Will the website charge a fee? How will the organizer handle and safeguard donations?
– Donating to help a specific person: If you are donating to people you don’t know, look for specific information about the situation that can be verified.
– Donating to an organization: Donors should look for charities they already know and trust. To be sure that your money is going where you want it to go (and to minimize the chance of any extra fees being taken from your donation), consider donating directly through that charity’s own website, instead of through a crowdfunding page.
– Donating smartly: Be wary of charities that spring up overnight in the wake of a disaster or tragedy, that have names that sound like well-known charities, or that otherwise raise red flags. If there is reason to suspect a charity might not be legitimate, contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office before donating.
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