How to report a scam in Montana

Scammed? Call your bank or card company first. Calling quickly may improve the chance of stopping a payment, but recovery isn't guaranteed. Then use the list below.

Who to report to in Montana

• Montana Department of Justice, Office of Consumer Protection. Phone: 406-444-4500, toll-free 800-481-6896. Office of Consumer Protection.
• Your local police. File a report. Your bank may ask for it.

Phone numbers and links last verified Oct. 21, 2026. Check the agency's official contact page before calling.

Federal places to report (all states)

• FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov for most scams.
• FBI IC3: ic3.gov for online scams, crypto, and email payment scams.
• Identity theft: IdentityTheft.gov gives you a recovery plan.

Montana scam numbers

FBI, 2025. Montana residents reported 2,618 internet crimes to the FBI's IC3, 48th in the U.S. Reported losses were $53,192,859, 46th. That's 228.7 complaints per 100,000 people, 36th per person. (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, 2025 Internet Crime Report, state data appendix)

Crypto, 2025. Montana residents filed 590 crypto complaints with reported losses of $35,136,688. (According to the FBI.)

Older adults, 2025. Montana residents age 60 or older filed 814 complaints and reported losses of $31,773,898. (According to the FBI.)

FTC, 2024. Montana had 9,651 fraud and other reports to the FTC. Reported fraud losses were $22.5 million, and the median (middle) loss was $459. Montana ranked 43rd of 50 states for reports per 100,000 people (873). It also had 1,447 identity theft reports, ranking 39th. The top three report types were imposter scams (21%), identity theft (13%), and online shopping (9%). (FTC, Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024)

These numbers only count people who reported. Many people don't, so real losses are likely higher. FTC figures come from unverified consumer reports, not a survey.

Scams Montana officials are warning about

• Fake MVD texts. In February 2026, the Office of Consumer Protection warned about texts pretending to be from the Montana Motor Vehicle Division asking people to pay fines or traffic tickets. (Montana DOJ release, Feb. 23, 2026)
• Scam complaints in 2025. In January 2026, the Office of Consumer Protection said it handled 599 scam complaints in 2025. (Montana DOJ release, Jan. 21, 2026)

What to do right now

1. Stop all contact. Don't click links in texts about unpaid tickets or tolls. Delete them.
2. Call your bank or card company and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed.
3. Change passwords on any account the scammer touched, and turn on two-step login.
4. Save proof: screenshots, texts, emails, call logs, receipts, and phone numbers.
5. Report it to the state agency listed above, plus the FTC or IC3.
6. Beware of "recovery" offers. A request for a fee to get your money back is a common warning sign of a recovery scam.

Nearby states

• How to report a scam in Idaho
• How to report a scam in Nebraska
• How to report a scam in Colorado

Learn more

• How to report a scam anywhere in the U.S.
• How a $25 million email payment scam worked
• The fake closing email that cost $1.3 million

Last checked October 2026. Phone numbers and links come from each agency's official website. Agencies change them, so check the agency's site if something doesn't work. FraudMeNot is an independent publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for any government agency listed here. Links go to official sites. We can't take reports or get your money back. General education only, not legal, financial, tax or security advice. No guarantee. Consult a qualified professional. Stories may be dramatized or composite; see each label. See our disclaimer. Found an error? Tell us.