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$23 Million Stolen from Montanans in One Year: This April, Join AARP in Fighting Back Against Fraud

Guest opinion by Tim Summers, AARP Montana State Director

Tim Summers,

AARP Montana State Director

Published April 02, 2026

AARP

As we observe Consumer Protection Month this April, it's a critical time to shine a spotlight on the growing threat of fraud in Montana and the steps we can take to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones.

Recent data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) paints a troubling picture of escalating fraud across the United States. In 2024, consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud—a 25% increase over the previous year. When accounting for underreporting, the FTC estimates actual fraud losses in 2024 may have reached approximately $196 billion.

Older adults (ages 60 and older) were particularly hard-hit. They reported $2.4 billion in losses in 2024—up fourfold from $600 million in 2020—with high-value cases (over $100,000) driving much of the surge.

Closer to home, Montana residents were not spared. In 2024, the state saw $23.2 million in reported fraud losses, based on 6,622 complaints filed with the FTC—primarily driven by imposter scams and online shopping fraud.

These numbers tell only part of the story. Fraud disproportionately devastates older adults, who often suffer greater financial losses that are often never recouped. Many victims in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond cannot return to work to rebuild their savings, leading to profound emotional and financial hardship for them and their families.

Scammers are evolving rapidly, fueled by artificial intelligence. Deepfake videos and voice cloning make impostor scams more convincing, allowing criminals to impersonate government officials, family members, or trusted institutions. Cryptocurrency kiosks have become a favored method for thieves to receive funds quickly and irreversibly.

The good news? Prevention works. We know that the best kind of consumer protection is the kind where the crime doesn't find the victim in the first place -- which means prevention is the key and awareness is a consumer’s best defense against becoming a victim.

That's why AARP Montana is leading statewide efforts this April during Fraud Prevention Month to educate and empower Montanans. Through free events, workshops, shredding events, and fraud prevention webinars, residents can gain practical tools to spot and avoid scams. Find upcoming opportunities and register at aarp.org/MT.

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AARP Montana is collaborating with local partners and community leaders to amplify awareness and build stronger protections for all residents. To reach even more Montanans, we are partnering with Northern Broadcasting, Montana’s largest radio network, to air targeted fraud prevention public service announcements throughout April.

In Helena, the City Commission voted to officially declare April 2026 as Fraud Prevention Month, highlighting the urgent need for community-wide vigilance.

Beyond education, AARP is advocating for stronger safeguards at both the federal and state levels. This includes supporting proposed legislation in the upcoming Montana legislative session to curb cryptocurrency kiosk fraud and other high-risk schemes that disproportionately target vulnerable individuals.

At the Federal level, Senator Tim Sheehy recently introduced the AI Fraud Accountability Act — a bipartisan effort to protect Americans, from AI-enabled scams and deepfake fraud. And Representative Troy Downing is co-sponsoring the GUARD Act (H.R. 2978). This bipartisan legislation helps equip law enforcement to better fight financial fraud and scams targeting older Americans. AARP is actively lobbying to help pass both bills.

AARP delivers useful fraud prevention information year-round through the Fraud Watch Network where folks can find free tools, guidance, and resources to help them stay safe and informed, including a scam tracking map, Watchdog Alerts and the Fraud Watch Network Helpline at aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork.

AARP Montana also urges residents to remember two simple words that offer one of the most effective ways to stop fraud in its tracks -- Stop and Drop. That means: Stop and ask, “Could this be a scam?” and Drop all contact if something feels suspicious. Download the Stop and Drop handout and a Montana consumer protection contact sheet at aarp.org/MTFraudwatch.

Don’t forget that anyone is a target, regardless of age, education, or income. But with information and vigilance, we can outsmart con artists.