Key Findings
Minnesota received an estimated 387 to 500 million robocalls annually in peak years, approximately 125 per adult (YouMail data). Two-thirds are estimated to be scams or illegal telemarketing. ScamVerify™ analysis of 9.7 million FTC phone complaint records reveals 121,047 complaints from 47,120 unique scam numbers across 7 Minnesota area codes. Minnesota residents reported $144.6 million in fraud losses in 2024, with a median loss of $412 per victim, but the Consumer Federation of America estimates the true annual cost at approximately $1.5 billion when accounting for unreported losses.
Minnesota stands out for one legislative innovation. In July 2025, the state created the Consumer Protection Restitution Account, the first fund of its kind in the nation. Fifty percent of AG consumer enforcement recoveries (up to $5 million per year) now go directly into a restitution pool for scam victims. $4.6 million had been deposited as of the latest legislative report. AG Keith Ellison has been one of the most active enforcers nationally, co-leading Operation Robocall Roundup and warning Minnesotans to "stop being nice to scammers." The state is also considering a statewide ban on cryptocurrency kiosks (HF 3642) after the FBI reported $240 million in national crypto kiosk losses in just the first half of 2025 (70 Minnesota complaints, $540,000 in losses).
All 7 Minnesota Area Codes: Ranked by Complaints
| Rank | Area Code | Region | Numbers | Complaints | Per # | In-State % | Nat'l Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 651 | St. Paul | 9,127 | 23,872 | 2.6 | 75.7% | #204 |
| 2 | 612 | Minneapolis | 7,699 | 21,136 | 2.7 | 70.2% | #222 |
| 3 | 218 | Northern Minnesota | 7,358 | 18,209 | 2.5 | 49.6% | #246 |
| 4 | 320 | Central Minnesota | 7,027 | 17,591 | 2.5 | 39.2% | #254 |
| 5 | 507 | Southern Minnesota | 6,018 | 14,612 | 2.4 | 66.0% | #272 |
| 6 | 763 | NW Twin Cities suburbs | 5,499 | 14,267 | 2.6 | 69.8% | #276 |
| 7 | 952 | SW Twin Cities suburbs | 4,392 | 11,360 | 2.6 | 69.7% | #300 |
| Total | 47,120 | 121,047 | 2.6 avg | 62.9% avg |
St. Paul's 651 narrowly leads Minneapolis' 612 by 2,736 complaints. The most striking pattern is in the outstate codes: 320 Central Minnesota has just 39.2% in-state targeting, the lowest in the state by a wide margin, and 218 Northern Minnesota has 49.6%. Both are being heavily exploited for out-of-state campaigns.
Twin Cities: Four Codes, One Metro
The Twin Cities metro is served by four area codes with distinct profiles.
| Area Code | Coverage | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 651 | St. Paul / eastern suburbs | 23,872 | 75.7% | Impersonation (1,531) |
| 612 | Minneapolis | 21,136 | 70.2% | Impersonation (1,762) |
| 763 | NW suburbs (Plymouth, Maple Grove) | 14,267 | 69.8% | Impersonation (1,227) |
| 952 | SW suburbs (Bloomington, Eden Prairie) | 11,360 | 69.7% | Impersonation (999) |
| Twin Cities Total | 70,635 |
The Twin Cities generate 70,635 complaints, 58.4% of the state total. Government/business impersonation is the #1 category across all four metro area codes. Minneapolis (612) has the highest per-number ratio at 2.7 and unusually elevated home improvement scams at 679 complaints (18.3% robocall rate), consistent with the city's $295,726 median home value attracting renovation-focused fraud.
Bank impersonation is a specific Twin Cities concern. FOX 9 reported a surge of calls spoofing legitimate 1-800 bank numbers, where scammers claim to be the "fraud department" and extract Zelle payments from alarmed customers.
Central and Northern Minnesota: Campaign Launchpads
Two outstate area codes have dramatically lower in-state targeting than the Twin Cities.
| Area Code | Region | Complaints | In-State % | #1 Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320 | Central MN (St. Cloud) | 17,591 | 39.2% | Debt (3,073, 88.8% robocall) |
| 218 | Northern MN (Duluth) | 18,209 | 49.6% | Debt (2,059, 79.7% robocall) |
Central Minnesota's 320 has 39.2% in-state targeting and debt reduction as its #1 category at 3,073 complaints with an 88.8% robocall rate. This is the same nationwide automated campaign pattern seen in 502 Louisville (46.7% in-state, 89.0% debt) and 518 Albany (36%, 92.7%). Northern Minnesota's 218 at 49.6% follows a similar but less extreme pattern.
Together, these two area codes generate 35,800 complaints (29.6% of the state total) from just 14,385 scam numbers, with the majority reaching people outside Minnesota who have no connection to St. Cloud or Duluth.
Minnesota's Scam Category Profile
| Rank | Scam Category | Complaints | Robocall % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Government/business impersonation | 10,553 | 68.0% |
| 2 | Debt reduction | 9,908 | 78.3% |
| 3 | Medical and prescriptions | 8,221 | 51.5% |
| 4 | Warranties and protection plans | 5,136 | 78.4% |
| 5 | Home improvement and cleaning | 2,322 | 21.7% |
| 6 | Charities | 1,925 | 45.0% |
| 7 | Energy, solar, and utilities | 1,031 | 57.6% |
| 8 | Tech support | 885 | 60.3% |
Impersonation leads Minnesota at 10,553 complaints, making it one of the few states where impersonation outranks both debt and medical. Warranties rank #4 with 5,136 complaints at 78.4% robocall rate, the highest of any top category and an unusually elevated count for a state this size. Home improvement at 2,322 complaints (21.7% robocall) is the highest in our current batch, with nearly 80% using live operators.
The Xcel Energy Scam Connection
Xcel Energy serves the Twin Cities metro, the same utility targeted by scammers in Colorado (documented in ScamVerify's Colorado Phone Scam Report). The Minnesota pattern mirrors Colorado's:
- Scammers spoof Xcel's caller ID
- Threaten immediate disconnection
- Demand payment via prepaid debit/credit cards
- Minnesota Power (serving Northern MN/Duluth) faces the same campaign
In Colorado, scammers replicated Xcel's entire IVR phone system so callbacks sounded legitimate. Minnesota has not confirmed the IVR duplication tactic but the disconnection-threat pattern is identical.
Energy and utility scams statewide total 1,031 complaints at 57.6% robocall rate. Xcel Energy's legitimate customer service number is 1-800-895-4999.
The Crypto Kiosk Crisis
The FBI reported $240 million in national crypto kiosk losses in the first half of 2025. Minnesota had 70 complaints with $540,000 in reported losses. A Woodbury senior was defrauded over 8 months through 10+ Bitcoin transactions at a gas station kiosk.
Minnesota legislators responded with HF 3642, a bill to ban cryptocurrency kiosks statewide. A 2024 law had attempted to address the problem with a $2,000 transaction limit and 72-hour refund window, but scammers adapted to bypass both safeguards.
Top 10 Most Reported Minnesota Phone Numbers
| Rank | Phone Number | Complaints | Primary Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (763) 274-3899 | 336 | Impersonation (54), medical (42) |
| 2 | (651) 414-8203 | 206 | Mixed |
| 3 | (218) 206-8221 | 186 | Medical (33), mixed |
| 4 | (612) 887-2712 | 161 | Warranties (30), mixed |
| 5 | (612) 446-7961 | 121 | Medical (45), dropped calls (39) |
| 6 | (763) 299-4345 | 112 | Robocaller (4%), dropped calls |
| 7 | (612) 473-6530 | 110 | Robocaller (99%), dropped calls |
| 8 | (763) 334-4680 | 105 | Impersonation (29), medical (18) |
| 9 | (651) 273-0795 | 105 | Medical (58, 55.2%) |
| 10 | (763) 265-2586 | 104 | Robocaller (89%) |
Three of the top 10 are from the 763 NW suburbs. (651) 273-0795 from St. Paul is a medical scam line with 58 of 105 complaints (55.2%) for medical and prescriptions. (612) 446-7961 and (612) 446-7960 (not in top 10, 83 complaints) form a sequential pair from Minneapolis with 204 combined complaints focused on medical scams, suggesting an organized operation.
The Text Scam Waves
Minnesota was hit by multiple waves of smishing attacks in 2025-2026:
| Date | Scam | Target |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | Fake MN Dept. of Revenue refund texts | Banking info theft |
| March 2026 | Fake Hennepin County District Court texts | QR code payment |
| March 2026 | Fake DVS (Driver and Vehicle Services) texts | Penalty payment |
The Hennepin County court scam included a fabricated judge name and QR code. The MN courts issued an official warning. The Department of Revenue confirmed it never requests banking information by text.
Neighbor Spoofing Analysis
| Highest In-State | % | Lowest In-State | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 651 St. Paul | 75.7% | 320 Central MN | 39.2% |
| 612 Minneapolis | 70.2% | 218 Northern MN | 49.6% |
| 763 NW suburbs | 69.8% | 507 Southern MN | 66.0% |
Minnesota's statewide average of 62.9% in-state targeting reflects the pull of two outstate campaign codes (320 at 39.2% and 218 at 49.6%). The 36.5-point gap between St. Paul (75.7%) and Central MN (39.2%) is the widest within-state split in our current batch.
Minnesota vs. Other States
| State | Area Codes | Complaints | Unique Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 5 | 154,317 | New $10K spoofing law |
| Missouri | 6 | 149,228 | AG leads Robocall Roundup |
| Kentucky | 5 | 147,981 | 502 at #17 nationally |
| Minnesota | 7 | 121,047 | First-of-its-kind restitution fund, crypto kiosk ban |
Minnesota's $144.6 million in reported fraud losses translates to approximately $26 per resident. The Consumer Protection Restitution Account has deposited $4.6 million since July 2025, and the FTC has returned $17 million to 78,000 Minnesota residents since 2018 through enforcement actions.
What Minnesotans Can Do
- Check any suspicious number on ScamVerify's phone lookup before calling back. Minnesota has 47,120 known scam numbers in our database.
- Report scam calls to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the MN AG at ag.state.mn.us or 651-296-3353.
- Xcel Energy never threatens disconnection by phone. If someone claims your power will be shut off immediately, hang up. Call Xcel at 1-800-895-4999. Minnesota Power customers: 1-800-228-4966.
- Never use Bitcoin ATMs to make payments. The FBI reports $240 million in national crypto kiosk losses. A Woodbury senior was defrauded over 8 months at a gas station kiosk. HF 3642 would ban crypto kiosks statewide.
- MN courts, DOR, and DVS never contact you by text for payments. Any text from a Minnesota government agency demanding payment via link or QR code is a scam.
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FAQ
How much do Minnesotans lose to phone scams?
Minnesota residents reported $144.6 million in fraud losses in 2024 with a median loss of $412 per victim. The Consumer Federation of America estimates the true annual cost at approximately $1.5 billion when accounting for unreported losses. The FTC has returned $17 million to 78,000 Minnesota residents since 2018 through enforcement recoveries. The new Consumer Protection Restitution Account has deposited $4.6 million since July 2025.
What is Minnesota's Consumer Protection Restitution Account?
Created in July 2025, it is the first fund of its kind in the nation. Fifty percent of AG consumer enforcement recoveries (up to $5 million per year) go directly into a restitution pool for scam victims. The first legislative report is due October 15, 2026. $4.6 million had been deposited as of the latest report. AG Keith Ellison's office manages the fund.
Why do outstate Minnesota area codes have so many scam complaints?
Central Minnesota's 320 and Northern Minnesota's 218 have in-state targeting rates of just 39.2% and 49.6%, meaning most scam calls from these area codes reach people outside Minnesota. Like 502 Louisville and 518 Albany, these mid-market area codes are exploited for nationwide automated debt campaigns because they have available VoIP number inventory and face less carrier scrutiny than major metro codes.
What types of scams target Minnesota the most?
Government/business impersonation leads with 10,553 complaints (68.0% robocall rate), followed by debt reduction at 9,908 (78.3%) and medical at 8,221 (51.5%). Warranties are unusually high at 5,136 (78.4%). Home improvement (2,322 at 21.7% robocall) is the highest in our current batch. Xcel Energy impersonation follows the same pattern documented in Colorado, and bank impersonation calls spoofing 1-800 numbers are surging in the Twin Cities.
How do I report a scam call in Minnesota?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Minnesota AG at ag.state.mn.us or 651-296-3353. For Xcel Energy scams, call 1-800-895-4999. For crypto kiosk fraud, report to the FBI at ic3.gov. AG Ellison issues monthly Scam Stopper warnings and his office co-leads Operation Robocall Roundup.
