The Minnesota Attorney General is the state’s chief legal officer, currently Keith Ellison, who took office in 2019 and won re-election in 2022. The office serves as legal counsel to state government and, for most residents, acts as the main place to turn when a business has defrauded, misled, or otherwise treated a consumer unlawfully. It handles complaints, investigates patterns of illegal business conduct, enforces consumer protection and data privacy laws, and can take companies to court to recover money for Minnesotans.
What the Office Does for Minnesota Residents
Consumer protection is where the Attorney General’s office touches the most people. Under Minn. Stat. ยง 8.31, the AG has authority to investigate unfair, discriminatory, and unlawful business practices, and to enforce laws including the Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act, the Antitrust Act, the Unlawful Trade Practices Act, and laws against false advertising.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 8 – Attorney General – Section 8.31 Investigators can issue demands, subpoena documents, and take sworn testimony without filing a lawsuit first.
The Deceptive Trade Practices Act covers the kind of conduct most people recognize as dishonest selling: passing off goods as another brand’s product, misrepresenting quality or origin, advertising items with no intent to sell them as advertised, and hiding mandatory fees in a posted price.2Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 325D.44 – Deceptive Trade Practices The Consumer Fraud Act makes it illegal to use fraud, false promises, or misleading statements in a sale even if nobody was actually deceived. Common complaints involve residential utilities, debt collectors, telecommunications providers, and faulty products.
The office also enforces the Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act, which governs how businesses collect, use, and share Minnesotans’ personal data. The Attorney General is the sole enforcer of the MCDPA; there is no private right of action, so individual consumers cannot sue companies under this law on their own. Violations can carry civil penalties of up to $7,500 per violation, plus injunctive relief and the AG’s litigation costs. Since January 31, 2026, the office is no longer required to send a warning letter before filing an enforcement action.3Minnesota Attorney General. Enforcement – Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act
When the AG Handles Criminal Cases
County attorneys handle most criminal prosecutions in Minnesota. The Attorney General steps in only in specific circumstances: when the governor requests it in writing, or when a county attorney asks for assistance directly. In those situations, the AG can prosecute someone charged with an indictable offense and attend grand jury proceedings with the powers of a county attorney.4Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 8.01 – Appearance The office’s involvement typically shows up in high-profile homicide cases, complex white-collar fraud, and matters requiring specialized forensic accounting. If you are the victim of a crime, the county attorney’s office where the crime occurred, not the AG, is generally the correct point of contact.
How to File a Consumer Complaint
The fastest way to file is the online Consumer Assistance Request Form on the AG’s website. The form asks for the name and address of the business, along with details about the product or service involved.5Minnesota Attorney General. Consumer Assistance Request Form Purchase dates, dollar amounts, and account numbers are optional, but providing them gives staff a clearer picture of what happened. Complaints involving a healthcare provider also require an Authorization for Release of Medical Information Form.
Before you start, gather copies of anything that documents the dispute: bills, contracts, canceled checks, emails, and advertisements.6Minnesota Attorney General. File a Complaint A clear chronological description of what happened, and what resolution you want, helps staff evaluate the claim quickly.
You can also mail your complaint to the office at 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, St. Paul, MN 55101.7Minnesota Attorney General. Contact the Office of Attorney General Keith Ellison Once received, a staff member is typically assigned within two business days. The office then contacts the business and asks for a response. Most businesses reply within about a month, though some request extensions and final responses can take up to 60 days.6Minnesota Attorney General. File a Complaint Staff often try to mediate a resolution between you and the business. If mediation succeeds, you get a result. If it does not, and the office sees a pattern of violations, it may open a broader investigation.
What the Office Cannot Do
The Attorney General’s office is not authorized to give legal advice about your individual situation or represent you as your personal attorney in a private dispute.8Minnesota Attorney General. How Can We Help If you need someone in court on your behalf, you need to hire a private lawyer. The office also has no licensing authority; it cannot revoke a business license or force a company to take a specific action through mediation. It can contact the business, request a response, and negotiate, but nothing about that process compels the business to comply.
Filing a complaint also does not pause any legal deadlines. Statutes of limitations, contract cancellation windows, and court filing deadlines all keep running while the office reviews your case. If the AG opens an enforcement action based on your complaint, that action serves the public interest and may not resolve your individual dispute on a timeline that helps you personally. Complaints about your own situation still need attention from a private attorney if a deadline is near.
Contact Information
The office can be reached by phone at (651) 296-3353 from the Twin Cities area or (800) 657-3787 elsewhere in Minnesota. The Minnesota Relay number for hearing-impaired callers is (800) 627-3529. The mailing address is Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, 445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600, St. Paul, MN 55101.7Minnesota Attorney General. Contact the Office of Attorney General Keith Ellison After submitting a complaint, wait at least three business days before calling for a status update, unless the matter is time sensitive.6Minnesota Attorney General. File a Complaint