Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Montana
I. Overview: Montana’s Senior Population and Key Cities
As of 2024, Montana has a population of approximately 1.13 million, with over 230,000 residents aged 65 and older , accounting for around 20.4% of the population. This puts Montana among the top ten states with the highest proportion of older adults, many of whom live in rural or semi-rural communities.
Seniors in Montana are frequently targeted by fraudsters using Medicare scams, fake sweepstakes, Social Security or IRS impersonation, and phishing emails. Limited broadband access and geographic isolation can make it harder to detect scams or report them in time , making awareness and community connection especially important.
The top cities where elder fraud reports are more frequent include:
- Billings (approx. 120,000 people)
- Missoula (approx. 76,000 people)
- Great Falls (approx. 60,000 people)
II. 2024 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Montana’s Seniors
In 2024, Montana had 438 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $12,056,193.
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | Loss Amount |
| Investment | $5,352,023 |
| Tech Support | $2,309,586 |
| Government Impersonation | $294,940 |
| Romance | $2,291,700 |
III. Emergency and Official Contacts
Local Police Departments – Elder Fraud and Financial Crimes
1. Billings Police Department – Financial Crimes Unit
- Phone: (406) 657-8200 (non-emergency)
- Website: billingsmt.gov
- Report elder fraud, identity theft, and online scams.
2. Missoula Police Department – Investigations Division
- Phone: (406) 552-6300 (non-emergency)
- Website: ci.missoula.mt.us
- Assists with financial exploitation cases and scam complaints.
3. Great Falls Police Department – Community Policing
- Phone: (406) 455-8599 (non-emergency)
- Website: greatfallsmt.net
- Contact for fraud reporting and elder safety resources.
FBI and Federal Scam Reporting
FBI Salt Lake City Field Office (covers Montana)
- Phone: (801) 579-1400
- Website: fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/saltlakecity
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
- Website: www.ic3.gov
- For reporting phishing, romance scams, identity theft, and online fraud.
Montana Attorney General – Elder Abuse and Consumer Protection
Montana Department of Justice – Office of Consumer Protection
- Consumer Protection Hotline: (800) 481-6896
- Website: dojmt.gov/consumer
- Handles complaints of elder fraud, financial abuse, and scam prevention.
Statewide Elder Services and Medicare Fraud Support
Montana Adult Protective Services (APS)
- APS Hotline: (844) 277-9300
- Website: dphhs.mt.gov
- Investigates abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Montana Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)
- Phone: (800) 551-3191
- Website: missoulagingservices.org
- Helps detect and report Medicare scams, billing fraud, and ID theft.
Montana Office on Aging (Department of Public Health and Human Services)
- Phone: (800) 551-3191
- Website: dphhs.mt.gov
- Provides elder advocacy, fraud education, legal services, and caregiver support.
Pause, Check, and Report
- Montana seniors lose millions of dollars every year to preventable scams.
- Always be cautious with unsolicited calls, texts, or emails , especially those involving money or urgency.
- Visit our Education Center for scam examples, prevention tips, and safe reporting guides.
- When in doubt, talk to someone you trust. Help is available.
