‘Listen to Your Gut’: Montana PSA Features Elder Fraud Victim’s Warning

HELENA — Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has launched a new public service announcement campaign to combat elder fraud, featuring an Anaconda woman who lost her life savings to scammers posing as federal agents.

The 30-second PSA features Susan Bivins, who was defrauded by criminals impersonating Drug Enforcement Administration agents in 2022. The campaign, which will run through the end of the year, promotes the message “Stop. Check. Protect.” to help Montana seniors avoid falling victim to increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.

“Scammers deliberately target seniors who have been working and saving their entire lives to retire,” Knudsen said. “At the Montana Department of Justice, we will continue to do what we can to hold perpetrators accountable. I encourage every Montanan to learn the signs and stay in contact with their older friends, neighbors, and relatives to help us stop this abuse.”

Local Cases Highlight Growing Problem

The PSA launch comes as Montana continues to see high-profile elder fraud cases. In May, Western Montana News reported on an Indian national who was charged with stealing nearly $1 million from an elderly Missoula victim through a scheme involving fake Amazon, Social Security, and U.S. Marshal representatives.

According to previous state data, “seventy-five percent” of securities fraud cases investigated by Montana involved victims 65 or older, while nationally “one in 44 cases of fraud go unreported.” The current Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, James Brown, who took office in January 2025, secured $100,000 in additional legislative funding for anti-fraud education campaigns and has presented fraud prevention seminars in around 25 counties across Montana this year^4.

Nationally, scams targeting individuals aged 60 and older caused over $3.4 billion in losses in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915^1.

Bivins’ Story: Weeks of Manipulation

Bivins’ ordeal began with fraudulent charges on her Amazon account, according to the Department of Justice. Scammers then contacted her, with a man posing as a DEA agent who convinced her she was suspected in a money laundering scheme.

For weeks, the fake agent maintained contact with Bivins. He eventually told her she was cleared of suspicion but needed to transfer her savings to him for protection from money launderers. The scammer promised the DEA would issue her a cashier’s check once her money was “safe,” but she never received it.

“You really need to listen to your gut, and if your gut tells you this is not right, pay attention to that,” Bivins said in the PSA.

Bivins was eligible for $50,000 in restitution through the Securities Restitution Fund^3.

Three-Pronged State Response

The Montana Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation oversees three sections that work to protect Montana’s elders: the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit provides direct assistance to criminally investigate elder abuse and exploitation within health care facilities, the Office of Consumer Protection protects seniors from financial exploitation, and the Elder Justice Unit helps to combat financial exploitation, abuse, and other crimes committed against Montana’s older population.

In the past year, the District of Montana prosecuted several cases targeting older adults, including Ronald Lords of Corvallis (ex-lawyer sentenced for defrauding investors), William Tempel of Great Falls (embezzlement), and Debra Roeber of Butte (sentenced for stealing more than $600,000 from a blind victim)^2.

Common Scam Tactics

The Department of Justice identified three primary scam types targeting Montana seniors:

• Grandparent scams: Criminals pretend to be grandchildren needing monetary assistance
• Romance scams: Targeting lonely seniors seeking romantic relationships
• Law enforcement scams: Creating false authority by impersonating federal agents

Attorney General Knudsen offered these prevention tips:

• Never give personal information to unsolicited callers
• Don’t wire money or send gift cards to unknown individuals
• Use common sense and ask others for advice when suspicious
• Be skeptical and resist high-pressure tactics

Reporting Resources

Montanans can report elder fraud and abuse through multiple channels:

• Montana Department of Justice: 406-444-3874
• Office of Consumer Protection: [email protected] or 406-444-4500
• Medicaid Fraud hotline: 800-376-1115

“Always remember if something feels wrong: Stop. Check. Protect. And if you or a loved one is the victim of elder abuse, contact my office immediately,” Knudsen said.