commerce consumer alerts blue and green banner look




"December 2024 "






In this issue

* Protect yourself from scams this holiday season [ #link_1 ]
* MNSURE Open Enrollment deadline approaching [ #link_2 ]
* Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy formally established for Tribal-State energy issues in Minnesota  [ #link_4 ]
* $1.8 million DOE grant will fund new energy jobs training at White Earth Tribal and Community College  [ #link_5 ]
* Careers at Commerce [ #link_3 ]

________________________________________________________________________







Protect yourself from scams this holiday season

Learn how to avoid gift card scams

Gift card scams are on the rise this holiday season. Scammers might pose as someone you know, a company, or even the IRS, asking you to pay for something using a gift card. That’s a big red flag. Legitimate companies and the government will never ask you to pay with a gift card. Watch the video below for steps to help you identify, avoid and report gift card scams.  

giftcard [ [link removed] ]

The Minnesota Department of Commerce provides many consumer fraud resources. [ [link removed] ] Our service center can help you address complaints about businesses regulated by the department, including banks, insurance, and debt collectors. To file a complaint, call 651-539-1600. To report or get additional help with scams involving seniors, call the Commerce Senior Fraud Line at 952-237-7571. 






________________________________________________________________________



Scams are surging. Could you be the victim?

MPR

MPR News host Angela Davis discusses the latest examples and trends in scams with Minnesota Department of Commerce assistant commissioner Jacqueline Olson.  

*Listen to the story* [ [link removed] ]


________________________________________________________________________



Beware of increased scams during holiday shopping

Assistant Commissioner Jacqueline Olson sits down with Arri Bergeron of WCCO to talk about how consumers can protect themselves from holiday scams.  

*Listen to the story* [ [link removed] ]


________________________________________________________________________



Avoid health insurance scams using our License Lookup Tool

If you are considering health insurance from a company that you’re not familiar with, one of the most important things you can do is make sure they are legitimate and licensed. 

At the Minnesota Department of Commerce, we make this easy with our online License Lookup [ [link removed] ] Tool [ [link removed] ].  Watch the video below learn how you can use our online license look up tool.  

look up tool [ [link removed] ]

Along with the License Look Up Tool here are some additional questions to ask if you’re shopping for health insurance or Medicare during Open Enrollment season:


* *Are they licensed in Minnesota?* Health plans and agents are required to be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Commerce: Look up licenses here [ [link removed] ].
* *Can I get that in writing?* Ask the health plan to clearly explain insurance costs and coverage. Get this information in writing:  How much will premiums cost? How much do I pay out of pocket before insurance covers costs? What if I end up at an emergency room or need surgery? How much will insurance cover a prescription drug? 
* *How do I pay premiums?* Don’t pay anyone who claims they are from a health plan or Medicare and demands cash, cryptocurrency, or your credit or debit card numbers so you can get or keep health coverage.

Contact trusted sources for health insurance:

* For Medicare, contact the Minnesota Senior Linkage Line [ [link removed] ].
* Contact MNsure [ [link removed] ], Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace.

________________________________________________________________________



MNSURE Open Enrollment deadline approaching

MNSURE

 



MNsure is Minnesota’s official health insurance marketplace. Each year, it connects tens of thousands of Minnesotans— including self-employed individuals, entrepreneurs, small business owners, early retirees who don’t yet qualify for Medicare, and those without access to affordable health insurance through their jobs— to health plans offering quality, comprehensive coverage and access to discounts (tax credits) that reduce health insurance costs.

Visit MNsure.org [ [link removed] ] during Open Enrollment. Apply by January 15.

________________________________________________________________________



________________________________________________________________________



Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy formally established for Tribal-State energy issues in Minnesota 
TACE

The Tribal Advocacy Council on Energy, or TACE, has been formally established by Tribal Nations in Minnesota and has approved Michael Childs Jr., Prairie Island Tribal Council member, as TACE co-chair. A second TACE co-chair is expected to be appointed at an upcoming meeting. 

The mission of TACE is to bring forward recommendations for improving Tribal energy on Reservations, Adjacent Territories, and Ceded Territories through meaningful consultation, effective collaboration, partnerships, policies, and legislation. 

*Press release* [ [link removed] ]


________________________________________________________________________



$1.8 million DOE grant will fund new energy jobs training at White Earth Tribal and Community College 

A new energy jobs training program will be launched by the White Earth Tribal and Community College (WETCC) through a partnership with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, which was awarded a $1.8 million grant with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Auditor Training Program. 

*Press release* [ [link removed] ]


________________________________________________________________________



Careers at Commerce

Explore current job openings and the work we do at Commerce for future career opportunities:  Careers at Commerce [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________



Get updates and news from the Minnesota Department of Commerce at mn.gov/commerce [ [link removed] ] or @MNCommerce on social media.

Twitter [ [link removed] ] |  Facebook [ [link removed] ]  |  YouTube [ [link removed] ]  |  LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]  








*Minnesota Department of Commerce*
85 7th Place East, Suite 280
St. Paul, MN 55101

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota Department of Commerce GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;} table.govd_hr {min-width: 100%;}