Vikings, MPD and BBB Warn Fans of Counterfeit Tickets

Burnsville, MN (January 9, 2017)– The Minnesota Vikings, in partnership with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB), remind fans to be aware of counterfeit or fraudulent tickets circulating prior to Sunday’s Division Playoff game against the New Orleans Saints. These tickets are typically sold over the Internet or offered by ticket sellers near U.S. Bank Stadium on game days.

Because of the Vikings ticket-scanning process, if a fan purchases a counterfeit ticket, he/she may not be able to access the stadium and could be subject to an investigation. If a person is already in the stadium and is caught in possession of a fraudulent ticket, he/she will be ejected and could be subject to arrest.

The only authorized outlets for Vikings tickets are the Vikings Ticket Office, Ticketmaster and the NFL TicketExchange. Purchasing tickets from any other source is done at the buyer’s risk and ticket selling on U.S. Bank Stadium property is illegal.

The Vikings, the MPD and BBB offer fans the following tips:

On Game Day:

·         Always check with the Vikings Ticket Office to see if tickets are available via visiting team and fan returns.

·         The Vikings have two types of authorized tickets: digital tickets accessible through the Vikings mobile app or printed (8.5” x 11”) PDF tickets. Do NOT purchase any Vikings tickets sold on hard ticket stock.

·         Take your time. Scrutinize the tickets closely for inaccuracies or alterations. Cross-check the seat assignment and prices with a stadium map found on the Vikings mobile app.

·         Ask the seller to take a photo with their valid ID prior to the transaction. Ask him/her to walk to the stadium gates with you to ensure the tickets are scanned. If they refuse, move on.

Buying Tickets Online:

·         Only the Vikings Ticket Office, Ticketmaster and the NFL TicketExchange can guarantee the ticket you purchase online will be valid to attend the event.

·         When searching for tickets through online brokers on the secondary market, always look for the BBB Online seal and click on the link to ensure that it is valid. Research the company at bbb.org and be clear on the company’s policy if tickets purchased through the site are fake or not as advertised.

·         When buying from an individual through an online exchange don’t be lured away from the web site by the seller. Even if you met the seller on the exchange web site, the company may not guarantee any lost money if a transaction occurs outside its domain. If you buy tickets through an online auction, choose a seller with a long, continuous history of satisfied customers. Scammers can hijack old accounts, so make sure they have recently bought or sold other items.

·         Only pay with a credit card or through PayPal, which offers some protection and potential reimbursement. Never pay with a cashier’s check, gift cards or wire money to a seller; you’ll have no way to retrieve your money if the tickets do not arrive.

For more information or for media interviews with a member of the Minnesota Vikings, the Minneapolis Police Department or Better Business Bureau, please contact Vikings Executive Director of Communications Jeff Anderson at andersonj@vikings.nfl.net or 952.828.6570, Minneapolis Police Department Public Information Officer Scott Seroka at scott.seroka@minneapolismn.gov or 612.673.3524 or Communications Manager for BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota Dan Hendrickson at dan.hendrickson@thefirstbbb.org or 651.695.2463.

Protect yourself from credit card skimming

Burnsville, Minnesota– December 19, 2017 –Even if you’re choosy about which gas stations you frequent, you can still become a victim of financial thieves that place seamless devices on machines to steal – or ‘skim’ - sensitive financial information. Skimming is a growing problem, and Better Business Bureau® of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB), the Minnesota Department of Commerce and several other local and federal law enforcement agencies say consumers need to remain vigilant to steer clear of this scam which can also lead to identity theft.

In recent years, thieves have increasingly targeted gas pumps to steal credit card data. Skimming devices are placed inside the pump and are undetectable from the outside. Credit card information can now even be obtained from the skimming device via Bluetooth technology so thieves don’t have to go back to the pump to retrieve stolen card numbers. Many gas stations are taking measures to secure their pumps via tamper-resistant security tape and visual inspections, but to avoid having your financial information stolen, pay inside rather than at the pump. Minnesota’s Department of Commerce is also taking steps to tackle this problem.

“To protect consumers, Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Weights & Measures inspectors are on the lookout for skimmers during their regular inspections of gas pumps for accuracy, safety and fuel quality,” said Commerce Commissioner Jessica Looman. “Consumers can protect their money by being aware of signs of tampering and reporting suspicious activity to the station and the Commerce Department.”

To avoid becoming a victim of credit card skimmers:

Give it a wiggle – Skimming devices are often false panels attached to the credit card reader – where you swipe your card. Inspect debit and credit terminals closely. If anything looks damaged or unusual, give it a wiggle. Also watch out for new or suspiciously placed cameras and unusual signage. Don’t hesitate to walk away and if something doesn’t feel right.

Pay inside or pay with cash – Paying inside at gas stations reduces your risk of credit card fraud greatly, and paying with cash is an even safer approach.

See something, say something -- If you notice any suspicious activity (especially someone who is not a station employee or an inspector who is opening up a pump), alert the station attendant.

Keep an eye on your statements – The most vigilant person can still fall victim to skimming, and it’s important to always keep a close eye on your accounts – particularly the itemized breakdown of monthly charges – so that you can report any suspicious activity on your account.

Report fraud immediately – Report any fraudulent activity to your bank or credit card provider as soon as you discover it. Paying with a credit card instead of a debit card, because they offer great protections. Consumers who think that they’ve been victims of skimming should visit IdentityTheft.gov to report identity theft and develop a recovery plan

“Just as it’s important to know what to watch out for as far as these skimming devices, it’s equally important to know what to do if you’ve fallen victim,” said Susan Adams Loyd, President and CEO of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota.

The FBI investigates a wide variety of credit card fraud schemes to include Internet-facilitated criminal activity. If you believe you’ve been a victim of an online fraud scheme, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center is a reliable and convenient reporting mechanism to submit information using the following website: www.ic3.gov/. Consumers can also file complaints with the FTC (877-FTC-HELP; ftc.gov)

If you notice any suspicious activity (especially someone who is not a station employee or an inspector opening up a pump), alert the station attendant or call the MN Department of Commerce’s Weight & Measures Division at 651-539-1555.

Commerce Dept warns of fake insurance agency scam

SAINT PAUL – Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman is alerting Minnesotans to be on guard against a fraudulent employment offer that claims to be from an insurance agency in the state.

In the past week, the Commerce Department has received five complaints and inquiries from Minnesotans who were contacted, via email and phone, by someone claiming to be with “Skyline Insurance” and offering a job re-labeling and forwarding packages to other addresses. The job offer promises as much as $3,500 per month for the work.

There is no insurance business licensed in Minnesota by the name of Skyline Insurance. There is no Skyline Insurance located at the physical address listed in the email, nor does anyone answer at the phone number. The company’s purported federal employer identification number actually belongs to eBay. The company’s website (skyline-ins.com) is fake, too, but with a minimal amount of content to make it look like a legitimate insurance agency.

It is known as “reshipping” and often shows up as a “work from home” opportunity posted on job boards, dating websites or chat rooms. In reality, it is an attempt to lure unsuspecting individuals to participate in a large-scale fraud scheme.

Criminals use stolen credit cards to buy high-priced goods online and have them sent to the U.S. addresses of “reshipping mules,” who repackage the stolen goods and mail it to overseas addresses. Not only do the reshippers get pulled into a crime, they also typically never get paid and, in fact, lose the money they spent on their own for the reshipping.   

Sometimes the scam also involves the victim getting a fake certified or regular check to deposit in their own bank account. They are instructed to use some of it for postage but wire transfer most of it elsewhere. When the bank determines the check is counterfeit or part of a crime, the victim may end up responsible for the full amount of the check along with any bank fees.

A recent study suggests that some 1.6 million credit and debit cards are used to commit at least $1.8 billion in reshipping fraud each year. Many online retailers have stopped allowing direct shipments from the U.S. to Russia, eastern Europe and Africa, citing the high rate of fraudulent transactions. As a result, criminals have resorted to reshipping schemes.

The Commerce Department offers the following tips to help Minnesotans avoid getting lured into a reshipping scam:

Don’t accept or mail suspicious packages. No legitimate business should ask you to accept packages at your address and forward them someplace else, especially a foreign address. 

Protect your money. Be suspicious if you are asked to make any upfront payments, transfer money from your bank account or wire transfer money for the “employer.”  

Safeguard your information. Don’t give out any sensitive personal or financial information that the scammers can exploit. Even if they are not reshipping operators, they may be identity thieves.

Do some research. Simply looking at the company’s website may not be enough because reshipping operators often set up websites that can look legitimate. Check out the company with the Minnesota Commerce Department or the Better Business Bureau.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. An offer to pay $3,500 per month simply to resend packages from your home doesn’t pass the smell test.   

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service also provides advice aboutreshipping scams.

Visitors to Tettegouche S.P. advised to watch credit card accounts

State IT security specialists discovered malware (malicious software) on state computers at Tettegouche State Park in Silver Bay, Minnesota, Aug. 25.

Even though the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has no evidence that credit card numbers were accessed, out of an abundance of caution, it is advising those who visited the park and charged items from Aug. 22-25 to review their credit card accounts for suspicious activity.

About 400 credit card transactions took place at the park during this period. The DNR is unable to access credit card customer personal information, so is unable to contact those who made the transactions.

The DNR is advising that visitors who charged items at the park during this period monitor their credit card accounts for any unusual activity and report their concerns to their credit card issuer. Issuers have been alerted to the incident. Visitors should also be wary of any email communications from the DNR that request personal information.

The virus was isolated to computers at the park. No other DNR or state IT systems were affected, including the state park reservation system and the DNR website. Customers should not worry that their park reservation data was compromised.

IT experts noticed a spike of unusual activity on the computers around 4 p.m. on Aug. 25 and initiated actions to isolate the site, protect sensitive data, and replace equipment. The state is currently conducting a full forensic analysis to learn more about what happened.

DNR staff are working closely with Minnesota IT Services to aggressively investigate this incident and to discover if any sensitive information was accessed.