Senior Scam Prevention and Fraud Resources in Montana
Montana seniors reported $32 million in elder fraud losses to the FBI in 2025, with 814 victims aged 60 and older. This page provides Montana-specific scam prevention resources, official reporting contacts, and five years of FBI elder fraud data for the state.
Already been scammed? Read our First 24 Hours Emergency Guide for critical steps to take immediately.
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 face a rapidly growing fraud threat. In 2025, romance scams were the #1 crime at $12.5 million — an explosive 447% increase from 2024, accounting for nearly 40% of all losses. Investment scams followed at $9.5 million (+77%). 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. 2025 Victim Report: How Scammers Targeted Montana’s Seniors
In 2025, Montana had 814 victims aged 60+ who reported losses totaling $31,773,898 — up 86% in victims and 164% in losses compared to 2024 (438 victims / $12M).
Loss by Crime Type
| Crime Type | 2025 Loss | 2024 Loss | Change |
| Investment | $9,482,563 | $5,352,023 | +77% |
| Tech Support | $2,399,047 | $2,309,586 | +4% |
| Romance | $12,524,287 | $2,291,700 | +447% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | $2,011,772 | $500 | +402254% |
| Extortion | $36,462 | $0 | New |
| Government Impersonation | $1,284,033 | $294,940 | +335% |
Elder Fraud Loss Trajectory — Montana
5-Year Elder Fraud Trend — Montana (2021—2025)
| Year | Victims (60+) | Total Loss | YoY Change | Nat’l Rank |
| 2021 | 341 | $3,990,802 | — | #44 |
| 2022 | 295 | $6,968,157 | +75% | #44 |
| 2023 | 359 | $7,917,918 | +14% | #45 |
| 2024 | 438 | $12,056,193 | +52% | #45 |
| 2025 | 814 | $31,773,898 | +164% | #39 |
| 5-Year Total | 2,247 | $62,706,968 | +696% (2021—2025) | — |
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Annual Reports, 2021—2025. Covers victims aged 60 and older. National rank is by total dollar loss among 52 states/territories. National totals: $1.6B (2021), $3.0B (2022), $3.3B (2023), $4.7B (2024), $7.4B (2025) — $20.1 billion stolen from American seniors over five years.
Top Crime Types Targeting Montana Seniors (2025 vs. 5-Year)
| Crime Type | 2025 Victims | 2025 Loss | 5-Year Total | Growth (2021—25) |
| Romance | 75 | $12,524,287 | $17,023,674 | New |
| Investment | 50 | $9,482,563 | $20,842,521 | +4,839% |
| Tech Support | 81 | $2,399,047 | $7,676,462 | +377% |
| Lottery/Sweepstakes | 26 | $2,011,772 | $3,683,710 | +194% |
| Gov. Impersonation | 45 | $1,284,033 | $1,622,123 | +27,514% |
| BEC | 22 | $1,229,621 | $2,650,176 | New |
Top 6 crime types by 2025 losses. Growth calculated from 2021 to 2025. For national crime type trends, see our Crime Type Migration Analysis.
What the data reveals: Montana’s elder fraud losses surged 164% — from $12 million in 2024 to nearly $32 million in 2025 — one of the sharpest increases in the nation. The standout is romance scams, which exploded from $2.3 million to $12.5 million (+447%), suggesting that scammers are aggressively targeting isolated rural seniors through online dating and social media. With 814 victims, approximately 1 in every 1,397 Montana residents aged 60+ was victimized.
National context: Montana ranks #39 in total losses but #9 in per-capita victim rate (71.58 per 100,000) — well above the national midpoint. This is a clear example of how total dollar figures can mask the reality in smaller states: Montana’s seniors are more likely to be targeted than those in New York, Illinois, or Pennsylvania. The 164% growth rate is nearly three times the national average of 57%.
For the full national picture, including how Montana compares to every other state, visit our national hub page with interactive data and rankings.
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.
IV. Learn More: Montana Scam Prevention Guides
Explore Montana-specific guides on the most common scams targeting seniors in your state:
- Tech Support Scams in Montana — Learn to recognize fake pop-ups, phone calls, and remote access schemes.
- Investment Scams in Montana — Protect your retirement savings from fraudulent advisors and crypto scams.
- Romance Scams in Montana — Spot the warning signs of fake online relationships designed to steal money.
- Government Impersonation Scams in Montana — Know what real government agencies will never ask you to do.
- How to Report Scams in Montana — Step-by-step guide to reporting fraud and starting recovery.
For national-level data on each scam type, see our Investment, Tech Support, Romance, and Government Impersonation national guides.
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.
