State authorities are warning businesses about a large-scale check fraud scam that could affect hundreds of businesses across the state.
Source: Sctimes.com
Investigators believe the suspect is a former Department of Labor and Industry employee and that the potential victims are businesses that sent a check to the department to pay fines imposed between Jan. 1 and Nov. 18, 2009, by the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
About 760 Minnesota businesses paid OSHA fines that were imposed during that time frame.
The former employee, whom the Department of Public Safety identifies as Terri Lynn Brennan, made copies of some checking account numbers and used those numbers to make fake checks.
Brennan is believed to have worked with several accomplices who cashed the fraudulent checks at businesses across the Twin Cities.
She was arrested Nov. 19 on suspicion of felony theft by swindle.
She is not in custody and is no longer employed by the state.
Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force investigators believe the evidence they need to identify the victims has been destroyed.
The task force sent letters Tuesday to all businesses that paid OSHA fines during the 11 months when the crimes are believed to have occurred advising them to look for any questionable checks. The letter includes contact information for investigators for businesses who believe they are a victim of the fraud.
Investigators believe the fraudulent checks were each written for less than $1,000.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force are leading the investigation with the assistance of the Woodbury and St. Paul police departments.
Source: Sctimes.com
