Protect yourself from Fraud
Fraud is a persistent problem that disproportionately plagues older individuals. See below for information on how to protect yourself as well as your friends, neighbors, and loved ones.
Nationwide Resources
FBI-National Level:
Report a crime or fraud
FCC:
Unwanted calls reporting (spam calls, number spoofing and unwanted texts)
Fraud report to Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
Identity theft FTC:
https://www.identitytheft.gov/
DoNotCall list FTC: (won't protect against scam calls, but will reduce legit robocalls which makes it easier to ID scammers)
How to block and label spam calls:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/node/77558
AARP:
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/?msockid=1feeb9fa1a7160fb3adcacfb1bcb6134
Call: 877-908-3360 (confidential call line)
Montana Resources:
Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI)
https://csimt.gov/file-a-complaint/
CSI PDFs and Video links:
Video presentation:
https://www.helenacivictv.org/on-demand/5416
FAST (Financial Abuse Specialist Team) Flyer
https://csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FAST-trifold_small.pdf
Fraud Slide Show:
https://csimt.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kalispell-Fraud-Summit-2025.pdf
Your Local Resources:
File a report with your local police department, even if you don't think they can recover the money. The local police can connect with national law enforcement to track trends and ID targets. This includes Cryptocurrency scams, the sooner you report it the more likely something can be done.
Stay aware, the scammers have a lot of time to build a relationship with you and gain your trust.
Talk to a person you know and trust, ask them how the deal you're being offered sounds, sunlight is the best disinfectant. Scams happen, and very smart people get caught up in them, so the sooner you talk to someone and get out from under it, the better.