The article is an opinion piece by South Dakota’s attorney general, who discusses their experience fighting fraud both at the state level and potentially at the federal level as they run for Congress. They highlight specific cases including a $325,000 internet scam and a contractor fraud case stealing over $36,000, emphasizing how technological advancements like AI are making scams more sophisticated. The attorney general also mentions larger-scale issues such as Medicaid fraud, advocating for stricter regulations to prevent illegal activities across digital platforms and telecommunication networks.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Marty Jackley, who served as South Dakota’s attorney general, is campaigning to become the state's sole representative in Congress this November. In his role as attorney general, Jackley has focused on combating fraud and protecting consumers from scams. He cites specific examples such as a 2025 case where scammers stole $325,000 from a Lawrence County couple, resulting in an eight-year prison sentence for the perpetrator who was also ordered to pay restitution. Another instance involved a contractor in Huron who defrauded seven customers of over $36,000 by failing to complete construction work.
Jackley emphasizes the national scope of fraud, noting that it impacts individuals and businesses alike, including seniors and taxpayers funding government programs. He joined 48 other attorneys general in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen rules against illegal robocalls. Jackley believes his experience fighting fraud will be crucial as he seeks a congressional seat this November.
Written for “Election Campaign Promise” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
As South Dakota’s attorney general, I’m no stranger to the effects of fraud.
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I → ’m → fraud
It doesn’t matter whether the victim is a senior citizen, a business paying a contractor, a family taking out a loan, or the American taxpayer funding a government program; the damage has been done.
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damage → matter → program
I’ve seen countless hardworking people harmed by scammers who felt the rules didn’t apply to them.
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rules → see → them
That is why fighting fraud and protecting consumers has been the heart of my work as attorney general, and why I believe that experience matters as I look to enter Congress as South Dakota’s sole representative this November.
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I → fight → representative
I have seen fraud up close.
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I → see → fraud
In 2025, my office prosecuted an internet scam that stole at least $325,000 from a Lawrence County couple.
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that → prosecute → couple
The defendant was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $325,000 in restitution.
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defendant → sentence → restitution
Similarly, in Huron, a contractor stole more than $36,000 from seven customers for construction work that was never completed.
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that → steal → work
These crimes are unacceptable, but now, they’re happening at a national level.
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they → happen → level
As we know, fraud these days doesn’t always come from a man with a computer in his basement.
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fraud → know → basement
As technology advances, so do the techniques of scammers, especially as artificial intelligence gives everyday people the ability to produce deepfakes and similar scamming materials.
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intelligence → advance → deepfakes
In July, I was proud to help South Dakota join a 46-state settlement with Block Inc. after its product Cash App misled consumers about the safety of its platform.
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product → help → platform
Our state is now receiving more than $410,000 from the settlement.
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state → receive → settlement
We have also worked with attorneys general across the country to correct the digital infrastructure that allows scams to happen in the first place.
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scams → work → place
Just this past September, I joined 48 other attorneys general in calling on the Federal Communications Commission to strengthen rules aimed at preventing scammers from accessing legitimate telephone numbers for illegal robocalls.
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I → join → robocalls
Stopping fraud is about protecting your wallet, which is why consumer protection extends to banking as well.
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protection → stop → banking
In March, South Dakota joined a bipartisan group of 13 attorneys general in suing OneMain Financial over allegations that borrowers were misled about loans and unwanted add-on products.
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borrowers → join → loans
The most important lesson I’ve learned during my time in office is that it’s rarely the people’s fault.
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it → learn → office
When we see billions in Medicaid and other social services fraud, we can’t just point blame at one another.
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we → see → one
We have to address where the government turned a blind eye in the first place.
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government → have → place
I saw this personally when I helped prosecute the case of a former Department of Social Services employee.
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I → see → employee
This person was convicted by a jury of stealing approximately $1.8 million in taxpayer funds from Child Protection Services.
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person → convict → Services
She’ll now serve seven years for attempting to take away vital funding from children who need it the most.
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who → serve → it
I’ve put a stop to it in South Dakota, and I’ll do the same in Washington.
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I → put → Washington
Back in 2025, I worked with legislators on a government accountability package that strengthened reporting requirements, whistleblower protections, auditing authority, and internal controls.
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that → work → requirements
In May, I was able to take this work to the nation’s capital.
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I → take → capital
I worked alongside Vice President JD Vance and other attorneys general at a White House fraud task force roundtable focused on combating fraud in public assistance programs.
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I → work → programs
Since then, South Dakota applied to take part in the federal Special Attorneys Program to strengthen cooperation between state and federal prosecutors.
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Dakota → apply → prosecutors
My goal is to bring this expertise to Congress, and from there to the Judiciary Committee, because no American taxpayer deserves to see a single dollar of theirs has been wasted.
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dollar → bring → theirs
South Dakotans understand this.
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Dakotans → understand → this
They work hard for their money, and any abuse of that is a breach of trust.
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abuse → work → trust
My experience fighting fraud has taught me that affordability is not only about what the government spends.
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government → fight → what
It is also about stopping the people and institutions that take money from Americans through deception, waste, and abuse.
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that → stop → deception
The Aporia
