NEW ULM — Law enforcement is urging Brown County residents to remain vigilant as a wave of sophisticated scams continues to evolve, targeting drivers and property owners. 

In a direct response to these threats, New Ulm Police Chief David Borchert announced a comprehensive fraud prevention workshop to be held at the New Ulm Community Center.

What began as a localized concern has grown into a widespread crisis, according to state and local officials.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office first identified a “Final Notice” DMV text scam last summer, and state authorities report a significant resurgence this spring.

“These messages are not only fraudulent, they’re frightening,” said Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) Director Pong Xiong in a statewide alert regarding the text messages. “We understand how upsetting it can be to receive multiple threatening messages demanding payment.”

The scam typically involves text messages claiming to be from the Minnesota Department of Vehicles or DPSMN, warning that failure to pay a fake traffic citation will result in the suspension of driving privileges, vehicle registration, or even reporting to a DMV violation database.

Brown County Sheriff Jason S. Seidl emphasized a simple fact that immediately exposes the scam.

“Minnesota does not have a DMV,” the sheriff said. “The state’s licensing and registration agency is the department of vehicle services. Any message referencing the department of motor vehicles or Minnesota department of vehicle administration is a confirmed scam.”

Seidl said the DVS and law enforcement will never send text messages demanding payment or requesting sensitive financial information. 

“The intent of these scammers is to frighten people into sending money or sharing personal information,” Seidl said. “Residents should know that legitimate traffic citations and registration notices are never delivered this way.”

The threat is not limited to vehicle owners, as the Sheriff’s Office also recently issued a warning about a fake invoice scheme targeting Brown County property owners. 

The Brown County Planning and Zoning Department issued a warning Wednesday regarding fraudulent emails and text messages appearing to come from the agency.

​Authorities say these messages are scams and not official department communications. Residents should avoid clicking on links or providing personal information.

Authorities also say these perpetrators research public data to identify targets, then contact residents while falsely representing themselves as an official Brown County office. 

“This is a scam,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in an official news release. “If you receive a suspicious text or email, delete it and do not respond. Do not set up accounts, provide personal information, or send money.”

Borchert emphasized the close collaboration between the New Ulm Police Department and the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

“We work together well with our county partner,” he said, highlighting their shared office space and daily operational coordination. This close-knit relationship ensures a unified front against evolving threats like scams.

The upcoming workshop, a collaborative effort, will feature a panel including Borchert, Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Andrew Kaminsky, Senior Investigator Chris Moellenhoff, and Mark Santelman, who is coordinating the event with representatives from six local financial institutions. 

Also joining the panel is Randy Murphy, the newly named investigator for the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Borchert said while Murphy has not yet had her official promotion ceremony, she has already been appointed to the investigative role.

Borchert stated the workshop will have a similar format to previous ones, aiming to reinforce the importance of prevention as everyone is being affected by scams. 

He emphasized that promoting prevention is the most effective approach due to the complexity of extraditing individuals involved in scams. 

“Helping even one person avoid a scam makes the effort worthwhile,” Borchert said.

Borchert weighed in on the technological shifts in fraud, saying residents must remain cautious even when messages appear authentic.

“Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques,” Borchert said. “They know how to make emails and texts look official. Always verify independently through official government websites or by calling trusted phone numbers.” 

Borchert further noted that scammers rely on fear and confusion to manipulate their victims. 

“We want our community to stay safe by taking a moment to verify and report anything suspicious. No legitimate government agency will demand immediate payment via text or email,” he said.

Borchert also expressed a strong belief that a federal task force is necessary to effectively combat scams, especially those involving international individuals. 

“I believe they need to assign a federal task force. That’s where we’re really going to get some results,” he said, explaining that dealing with international individuals involves “sovereign nations,” making extradition extremely complex and requiring significant power that a federal task force could provide.

Law enforcement investigations have traced many of the recent scam texts to international sources including, the Philippines, Nigeria, India and Eastern European countries, highlighting that Brown County residents are increasingly being targeted by sophisticated global cyber criminal networks operating across borders.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost an estimated $470 million to text-based scams in 2024, a five-fold increase since 2020. 

Authorities warn that this number is projected to rise even higher in 2026.

Both Seidl and Borchert stressed that awareness is the best defense against scams. 

“If you have already provided information or money to a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately and report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov,” the Sheriff’s Office advised.

The fraud workshop is scheduled for 8 a.m. May 20 at the New Ulm Community Center, located at 600 North German Street