MOORHEAD, Minn. – Clay County Department of Motor Vehicles and Minnesota Department of Vehicle Services staff helped stop multiple people from fraudulently getting identification cards.
DVS said seven people came into the DMV office in Moorhead in December 2025 to apply for same-day IDS as the office was participating in a pilot program. It allowed people to apply for a license or ID and have it printed that day.
Staff were suspicious seeing seven more people get out of the same white van a week later also with Louisiana birth certificates. DVS said they applied for photo IDs despite having drivers licenses. DVS said they lied about having Minneapolis addresses.
A DMV supervisor contacted DVS to deny the documents. Two people who were denied tried to get same-day IDs at the Dakota County License Center in Lakeville which was also taking part in the pilot program. They were denied since DVS placed holds on their records.
A few days later, the same white van showed up at the Moorhead DMV office. Staff worked with DVS to put holds on the records as they were created and called police. Officers questioned applicants finding they were approached in Louisiana about an all-expenses paid trip to Minnesota to get same-day IDs. They were told they would be paid $3,000 when they handed them over.
All applicants were denied new IDs or had their licenses canceled.
“We’re really proud of the teamwork between our staff and our business partners that effectively blocked an organized attempt at criminal behavior,” DVS Director Pong Xiong said. “A driver’s license or ID is such a crucial part of conducting the business of life — unfortunately, in the wrong hands it can be a major tool in a criminal’s arsenal.”
The same-day license program has been discontinued.
DVS said the department tracks identity scams happening in other states.
“We understand the importance of safeguarding customer information,” Xiong said. “We take our role in protecting the integrity of driver’s licenses and IDs in Minnesota very seriously.”
