GREAT FALLS — November 17-23 is International Fraud Awareness Week, which serves as an important reminder to be aware of potential scams sent your way. “In 2023, $12.5 billion was lost to fraud,” explained Blair Stapleton, the Public Outreach Coordinator for the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance, “And that’s nearly quadrupled since 2019.” Stapleton explains … Read more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Helena, Mont.— Commissioner Troy Downing is pleased to announce a significant update to the revocation and surrender process for bail agents across Montana. This new procedure introduces a single, standardized surrender form to be used statewide, now available through the CSI website portal HERE. The CSI is working with detention centers and … Read more
By Lurah LoweryCollision Repair | Insurance | Repair Operations In answer to a consumer complaint, Montana’s deputy insurance commissioner has told Liberty Mutual its settlement of a claim isn’t sufficient and that simply stating a referenced blend study as “unverified” without evidence to back it up is unacceptable. Liberty Mutual denied payment for the amount charged by the repair facility … Read more
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15 and Big Sky Senior Services invited multiple agencies to Billings to discuss what is being done in Montana to combat the increase being seen in with senior financial exploitation and abuse. Among the agencies were the FBI, Adult Protective Services and the Montana Commissioner of Securities and … Read more
A presentation at the Thompson Falls Senior Center last week educated citizens on how to be aware of potential scams and fraud. Presenters Blair Stapleton and Drew Czoik from the state Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Office traveled from Helena to Thompson Falls to inform the audience of potential fraud and scams via the internet … Read more
By SCOTT SHINDLEDECKERThe Western News Click HERE to view the article. The numbers are staggering and the effects are long lasting. Fraud seems to be everywhere and its perpetrators are relentless. The victims of fraud fall into no particular category, age or educational background, but those over the age of 60 are most vulnerable. Officials with … Read more
By Luke Ulatowski First Security Bank of Deer Lodge President Tom Christnacht warned of bank and social media scams as the guest speaker at a Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) “Protecting the Big Sky” presentation on Thursday. Held at the Powell County Community Center, the presentation was only one stop on a CSI … Read more
By Bryanna Carroll | NBC Montana BOZEMAN, Mont. — The FBI reports cybercrimes are up 62% from 2019 levels, and since then, losses from internet scams have more than tripled, coming in at $12.5 billion last year. Montana is not immune to the threat. In 2023, the state ranked No. 7 nationwide for highest losses per … Read more
“Mr. and Mrs. Allen, my name is Trevor and I have been authorized to give you a special offer. Our firm, SilverCert, has just acquired a cache of uncirculated gold coins from an estate near Morocco. These finely minted coins date from the 1920s and each with a troy ounce of pure gold. While we … Read more
By: McKenna Holman | KRTV Click HERE to view the article. The Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) office is going around Montana educating communities on what to look for in potential scam situations and who the most vulnerable targets are. “We do see that seniors are scammed out of more money oftentimes because they … Read more