Santelman, who has hosted the sessions for more than a decade, told attendees to question unsolicited contacts. “If it’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true,” he said. He urged residents to drop “Minnesota nice” and verify information before acting.

New Ulm recorded 108 fraud cases totaling $678,000 in 2025. By mid-May this year, losses had already exceeded $500,000 in 42 cases, officials said.

Molly Skipper of Brown County Human Services said about half of the agency’s adult protection reports involve scams. “It’s not even just older adults. It can be somebody in their thirties,” she said. “These scammers are so good at their jobs.” She encouraged victims to report incidents without embarrassment.

New Ulm Police Chief Dave Borchert, who also serves as a Brown County commissioner, said prevention is the best defense. 

Photo by Amy Zents Local bank panel members listen as Mark Santelman speaks during the fraud prevention workshop at the New Ulm Community Center on Wednesday.

He described a Ransomware cyberattack on June 18, 2025, in Mower County that cost more than $1 million.

The county’s computer networks were disrupted. Over 20,000 residents were potentially affected.They took most systems offline to contain it. 

The incident led Brown County to approve an additional $28,000 for cybersecurity.

Senior Investigator Chris Moellenhoff of the New Ulm Police Department said scammers create urgency and isolate victims. “They don’t want you talking to anyone who might say, ‘Hey, this is a scam,'” he said.

Bank representatives from Alliance Bank, Bank Midwest, Citizens Bank Minnesota, Frandsen Bank, SouthPoint Financial Credit Union and United Prairie Bank outlined common tactics.

Renee Thordson of Alliance Bank said banks ask questions during large transactions to protect customers. “Once the money leaves the bank, those funds are gone within hours,” she said.

Chris Jensen of SouthPoint described the typical pattern of scams. Imposters pose as trusted organizations, invent a problem, create urgency and demand untraceable payments such as gift cards or cryptocurrency. “A legitimate business will never rush you,” he said.

Stacy Morgan of Bank Midwest said callers often spoof local bank numbers. She advised people to hang up and call back using the number on the back of their debit card.

Panelists warned about phishing emails, computer pop-up scams and check washing. They recommended using online bill pay or ACH transfers instead of mailing checks.

They said scammers can clone a voice with just seconds of audio for schemes such as the grandparent scam. Carrie Steele of United Prairie Bank said generic voicemail greetings help avoid providing voice samples.

Drew Dauer of Edward Jones described a family member’s experience with a screen-takeover scam that included coaching on what to say at a bank.

One retired farmer lost more than $700,000 in a romance scam. Another victim, when asked when they realized they were being scammed, replied, “When I ran out of money.”

Panelists also discussed risks with digital assets. They warned that people who invest in cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin should ensure a trusted person knows how to access digital wallets as part of end-of-life planning. Without passwords, families can lose access to those funds permanently.

Santelman encouraged regular check-ins with adult children. Bankers advised using a financial power of attorney instead of adding an adult child as a joint account owner. A power of attorney provides access without exposing the account to the child’s potential legal or financial issues.

Borchert advised people to slow down, take control and verify numbers independently. He suggested using cash when possible and setting low ATM limits.

The full recording is expected to be available on YouTube and cable access.

For help, contact any local bank, Brown County Human Services or area law enforcement.