Avoid scams

Protect yourself from scams

Scam messages can look real. They can look like they are from a City department or employee.

Find out if the request is from the City before you pay or share your information.

In this section

To protect yourself, learn how to:

• Identify City communications
• Identify scams
• Avoid being scammed
• Report scams and protect yourself

Official City emails and communications

City emails come from an official City of Minneapolis email address.

What to know

• The official City of Minneapolis logo or other identification will be included.
• The format usually comes from an employee or department name at the beginning of the email address with @minneapolismn.gov at the end.
• Note: Some City messages may come from other approved City systems.

More ways to identify City communications

City communications will not include common misspellings and grammar errors.

Payment methods

• The City will let you know the methods available to you for payments, online or in-person.
• The City will indicate the dollar amount you need to pay. 
• You will use a secure system to pay online.

Timing of payment

• You will be provided a date by when you need to make the payment.

Sensitive information

• You will only be asked for sensitive information after you are on a City secure payment system.

The City will not send you

Payment requests that are suspect

• Cryptocurrency, gift cards and money transfers are not from the City.
• Payment requests with a direct link in an email or other digital communication are not from the City.

Payment to a third party

• Payment requests to a third party are not from the City.

Urgent requests or threats

• If the request tells you it's urgent or pressures you to act now, it's not from the City.

Requests for sensitive information

• If you are asked to include private or personal information, it's not from the City.

What to watch out for

Strange email addresses

• Look for slight misspellings or small wording variations.

Spelling or grammar errors

• Look for mistakes you would not see in legitimate messages.

What to do

• If you’re suspicious, call 311 to find out if the request is from the City or not. 
• Go to the City website another way instead.
• Be cautious with attachments. Attachments can contain malware.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.

Contact 311

What to avoid

• Avoid clicking links directly. Hover over them first to see where they lead.
  • Is it a City address or site? If it is not, it’s likely a scam.
• Avoid opening unexpected or suspicious attachments or files.
• If you are suspicious, do not reply to the sender. Instead, block the sender, or mark the number or address as spam.