Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has issued a public warning about a fraudulent electric scooter investment scheme targeting non-English-speaking communities, particularly the Oromo population. Promoted through word-of-mouth and social media, the scam lures victims with promises of passive income from scooter rentals—yet no scooters exist.

“This is a pyramid scheme,” Ellison stated in his monthly Scam Stopper series. “There’s no real product. The only money circulating comes from new recruits.” Consumers are urged to avoid ventures requiring recruitment to earn, especially those involving cryptocurrency payments or unverifiable companies.

The scam mirrors similar schemes like the Lightning Shared Scooter Company (LSSC), which has spread across the U.S. with fake dashboards and staged rental profits. Victims are often pressured to invest quickly, bypassing due diligence.

Consumer watchdogs, including the Better Business Bureau, have flagged these operations for deceptive practices. Ellison advises: “Don’t invest in products you’ve never seen. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Anyone affected should report the scam to the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office at 651-296-3353 or file a complaint online.

Based on reporting by: Star Tribune