An organized, sophisticated phishing scheme targeting Becker township residents was discussed at Monday’s town board meeting.

Township Clerk Lucinda Messman talked about the ongoing issue, wherein the fraudsters are likely utilizing artificial intelligence to comb through township records and then create very realistic emails soliciting funds online.

Most often, the malicious emails utilize personalized information and official looking logos to impersonate township staff who then request a wire transfer to pay for recent zoning and permitting services.

Messman explained that the township is doing what they can on their end, encoding information and utilizing IT staff to help safeguard information.  

“As a township, we do not send emails to people asking for money,” Messman explained, adding that people of all ages are being targeted.  “We are old fashioned and encourage people to come into the Town Hall and write a check . . . we never use or ask for wire transfers.”

Board Chair Brian Kolbinger noted the authentic look of the phishing correspondence.

“These requests look very real,” Kolbinger noted.  “We’re doing what we can, but we want to get the word out to people about what’s happening.”

Supervisor Brad Wilkening’s name has been fraudulently used in some of the phishing attempts, and he offered another tip for the general public.

“They are not only using AI, but also they add a sense of urgency (to demand people to pay immediately),” Wilkening noted.

Lucinda and the board ended their public education campaign by noting that the best thing to do is to call the Town Hall and talk with a staff member if there is any doubt about the veracity of any email correspondence.

In other business, the board:

• Heard from Sgt. Dan Frank of the SCSO, who reported on continued school bus stop arm violations - four just in the past month alone.  Frank noted that enforcement action will be taken on this issue, as most buses have video footage evidence to aid in prosecution.

• Listened to an update from Sherburne County Administrator Bruce Messelt, who covered a variety of topics from a pilot bus transit program to the county’s support of local post offices and data center development.