Mississippi Isn’t Minnesota. We Fight Fraud.
If you want to see what happens when government stops taking fraud seriously, look no further than Minnesota.
While families were playing by the rules, fraudsters were exploiting government programs and making off with millions of dollars. Money that had been set aside to feed hungry children and support daycare options for working families was instead used to buy luxury cars and mega-mansions. But let me tell you something: Mississippi isn’t Minnesota.
In Mississippi, we don’t make excuses for fraudsters. We hold them accountable. In fact, as State Treasurer, I’ve made stopping fraud a top priority, and we’ve taken real steps to back that up.
For starters, during my tenure, Mississippi became the nation’s first state to implement citizenship verification for unclaimed money claims. We’ve also invested in better technology, strengthened our verification processes, and trained our team to recognize suspicious activity before a single dollar goes out the door. And thank goodness we did.
Earlier this year, a criminal attempted to steal nearly $800,000 from our unclaimed money program in a single transaction. They had a birth certificate, supporting documents, and even a legitimate bank account ready to receive the money. On paper, everything looked fine. But something didn’t sit right with my team.
Rather than rubber-stamping the claim, we started digging. We checked the information, investigated further, and uncovered a sophisticated fraud scheme. Nearly $800,000 was kept out of the wrong hands because our team was willing to ask a few more questions. That’s what good government should look like.
Of course, the threats aren’t going away. Fraudsters are constantly looking for new ways to cheat the system, which is why we can’t afford to let our guard down. Earlier this year, we established a new data-sharing partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice to strengthen our ability to identify and stop fraudulent activity. Criminals don’t stop at the state line, and neither should our efforts to catch them.
This October, I took that commitment a step further by joining leaders across the country in signing Vice President J.D. Vance’s Anti-Fraud Pledge.
In that pledge, I made six commitments. First, protect vulnerable Americans, including the elderly and disabled, from fraudsters who prey on them. Second, ensure taxpayer-funded programs serve law-abiding Americans, not illegal aliens or fraudsters. Third, make certain taxpayer benefits aren’t used by criminals to bankroll mansions and luxury cars. Fourth, stop fraud before payments go out the door. Fifth, ensure fraudsters face justice for their crimes. And finally, support the prosecution and deportation of illegal aliens who commit fraud so they cannot continue exploiting Americans’ generosity.
Of course, I didn’t need a pledge to start fighting fraud. We’ve already been doing that in Mississippi. But I’m proud to sign it because it reinforces a commitment I’ve made since taking office: The money entrusted to government belongs to the people, and protecting it is our responsibility.
In short, my message to anyone looking to cheat the system is this: Don’t try it in Mississippi. We’re watching. We’re asking questions. And we’re working with law enforcement to make sure criminals are held accountable.
Minnesota has shown America what happens when fraud gets out of control. Mississippi is showing America how to fight back.
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