WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury is boosting financial reporting requirements for money services businesses that will help track ‍where cash goes, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday after a fraud scandal involving Minnesota’s social services system.

Treasury will issue a so-called geographic targeting order to make sure any illegal activity ‌is reported to its Financial ‌Crimes Enforcement Network.

“This will empower investigators to develop additional leads through increased scrutiny on funds going to areas of concern, such as Somalia,” Bessent said in an X post.

At least 77 people have been charged, many from the Somali ‍community, with siphoning COVID relief funds that were intended to provide meals to schoolchildren.

The fraud has cost taxpayers ‍hundre

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