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A local Native-led nonprofit has issued what it is calling a “community alert” to raise awareness about unhoused people targeted by a deceptive sober living scheme.

Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, a human services nonprofit organization serving Native American women and families, issued the alert Monday, saying it's concerned for unhoused Native Americans who they believe may be targets of a Medicaid reimbursement scheme.

In a statement released Monday evening, the organization’s executive director, Ruth Buffalo, wrote that over the past several months, clients have come forward to report that they were offered out-of-state treatment services by individuals who deceptively claimed to be service providers.

"We have been made aware of multiple reports indicating that our unsheltered relatives who are in active addiction have been targeted, approached and recruited by outside sources claiming they can transport them to treatment-filled facilities outside of Minnesota,” Buffalo said. “While the exact number of individuals taken out of state is currently unknown, the pattern is alarming.”

Buffalo urged community members seeking services to exercise “extreme caution” when accepting services from providers.

In mid-October, MIRWC coordinated with two partner organizations to assist three unsheltered Native American women from Minneapolis. The three women said they were offered treatment services in another state by unverified providers and then transported to a hotel room in Bloomington.

Buffalo said staff from her organization were able to separate the women from two men who had allegedly made the false promises of out-of-state treatment. She said her staff reported the incident to the Bloomington and Minneapolis Police Departments and offered services to all three women.

On Wednesday, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension confirmed to MPR News in an email that it is assisting an investigation dating back to early October.

Laura Perkins, spokesperson for the BCA, wrote, “In this instance, the Bloomington Police Department assumed the lead role, with the BCA providing a supportive investigative role.”

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Melissa Olson

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Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center urges community members to use “extreme caution” when accepting treatment services. 

Minneapolis nonprofit issues alert prompted by concerns over deceptive sober living scheme

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