Missoula Attorney Warns About Scams Targeting Seniors
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The Missoula County Attorney’s Office filed 18 new felony complaints in just four days. Chief Deputy County Attorney Mac Bloom provided this week’s report.
“We charged eight violent persons crimes, two endangerment crimes, four property crimes, and four drug crimes,” Bloom said. “We obviously had a little bit of a shortened week with the Veterans ' Day holiday. I wanted to just take a minute to thank all the veterans for their service on behalf of the Missoula County Attorney's Office. Your sacrifices mean a great deal to us, and we really appreciate all that you've done for this country.”
As the holidays approach, Bloom wanted to remind folks to look out for scams targeting our older population.
“If anyone tries to reach out to you over the phone and is asking you for money because of some kind of an emergency situation or some kind of serious legal issue, sometimes they say you've got a warrant or we've got your grandson and if you don't post their bail now they're never getting out of jail, anytime there's a real sense of urgency and they need a large amount of money quickly, you can pretty much be guaranteed that it's a scam,” Bloom said.
According to Bloom, scammers now have the technology to spoof the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office or the Missoula Police Department’s number on your caller ID.
“If you get a call from someone saying they're from the Sheriff's Office or MPD and they're asking you for money, just tell them that you're going to call right back,” Bloom said. “Call the MPD line or call the MCSO line and ask them what's going on. I can almost guarantee you they're going to say no that's not us, somebody is spoofing our number.”
READ MORE: How Seniors In Montana Can Protect Against Scams
Bloom said scammers will often ask for Bitcoin or Walmart gift cards. If someone is asking you for those kinds of things, let law enforcement know. They'll start investigating it and try to apprehend the person.
The Missoula County Attorney’s Office provides a weekly crime report every Friday morning at 9:00 on Talk Back.
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Gallery Credit: KC