BILLINGS, Mont. — The Montana Department of Justice hosted an Elder Justice Summit Tuesday at Billings Clinic, highlighting the growing problem of elder abuse and financial scams targeting seniors.
The summit, spearheaded by Attorney General Austin Knudsen, focused on both physical and emotional abuse, as well as increasingly sophisticated financial scams.
In an interview with Northern News Network’s Ken Adelblue, Knudsen said crimes against the elderly resonate deeply with the public.
“Absolutely,” Knudsen said. “Montana — we’re one of the oldest states in the union when you talk about average age. We’re a graying state. We’re seeing more and more elder abuse, whether it’s exploitation, financial exploitation, physical abuse — and a lot of scams targeting our senior population.”
To combat the issue, the Department of Justice has taken a more aggressive approach.
“We’ve added a full-time prosecutor and a full-time investigator,” Knudsen said. “That’s probably the biggest change. We’ve also moved this into our criminal division. This used to be more of a civil matter, where we’d try to recover money. Now we’re putting criminal teeth behind it and going after these individuals.”
Knudsen said technology is a major factor in why seniors are frequently targeted.
“As folks age, they become less familiar with new technology,” he said. “With artificial intelligence and voice-cloning technology, it’s becoming easier to impersonate family members and request money. That’s a common scam we’re seeing.”
He emphasized that education and awareness are key to prevention.
“These scams follow patterns,” Knudsen said. “They often involve requests for cryptocurrency, wire transfers or gift cards. And no legitimate government agency will ever call demanding immediate payment.”
Knudsen also urged the public to report scams, noting many cases go unreported due to embarrassment or fear.
“Reporting is critical,” he said. “These scams are constantly evolving, and the more information we have, the better we can educate others and prevent future victims.”
Officials say community awareness and involvement remain essential in protecting Montana’s growing senior population.
By Ken Adelblue
Northern News Network
