(Helena) — National Fraud Awareness Day was earlier this week. Montana State Auditor James Brown is urging Montana residents to stay alert, in protecting themselves from financial scams.
“Fraud impacts everyone — from hardworking families to small businesses — and the best defense is awareness,” said Auditor James Brown. “In the past year, our agency has uncovered millions
of dollars of fraud, partnered with law enforcement to secure convictions, and we have historically awarded over 2 million dollars in restitution to nearly 150 Montanans who were victims of
Fraud.”
The state auditor has provided tips to protect yourself from fraud.
Verify before you trust. It is okay to hang up and call the number of the official insurer that you have or company you are dealing with.
Guard personal information. Never share Social Security numbers, bank account info, or passwords with unverified sources.
Be wary of urgency. Scammers often pressure you to act quickly — slow down and think it through.
Report suspicious activity. Contact the State Auditors Officer at (406) 444-2040 or visit us at www. csimt.gov.
