What looked like a promising investment opportunity turned into a nearly $1 million loss. In this episode, host Adrienna Hines sits down with Commissioner James Brown and criminal detective James Gunderson to break down the case of “R.P.,” a Montana man who was targeted by a sophisticated “pig butchering” scheme. The scammers posed as represen...
E5 Fake Celebrity, Real Fraud
What happens when a familiar name, a social media message and the promise of a crypto investment collide? In this episode of Fraud Files, host Adrienna Hines sits down with Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown and special guest Jason Gunderson, a criminal detective out of Park County, to unpack a Montana case involving an Elon ...
E4 Seniors, Scams & Smart Decisions
It sounds like a movie plot we’ve seen before… fake authority, fear and urgency, and a scammer going after someone’s savings. All in the script, but the difference is this case is real and unfolded right here in Montana. A 74-year-old woman is contacted by someone claiming to be with the FTC. She’s told her identity has been tied ...
E3 Fake Agents, Real Money & One Bitcoin ATM
A phone call. A fake FBI agent. A Bitcoin ATM. And more than $42,000 gone. In this episode of Fraud Files, we examine how a 21-year-old Montana woman lost more than $42,000 after scammers posing as federal and local law enforcement convinced her she was connected to a serious criminal investigation. Using personal information to make the threa...
E2 Ikeda: Bail Money and Bad Decisions
What happens when someone entrusted with helping people out of jail instead uses that position for personal gain? In this episode of Fraud Files, host Adrienna Hines is joined by Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown, with color commentary from Stacy Zinn, consultant and former DEA Resident Agent in Charge for Montana, t...
E1 Forsage: Crypto Dreams Fraud Schemes
Fraud Files | The Forsage Cryptocurrency Scheme Can a scam hide behind blockchain technology? In this episode of Fraud Files, host Adrienna Hines moderates a conversation with Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown and former DEA Resident Agent in Charge for the State of Montana Stacy Zinn as they examine one of the world...
NRECA President Chris Christensen: ‘Collaboration Must Remain a Hallmark’ of Co-ops
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Continued collaboration among electric cooperatives will help all co-ops face the challenges of an uncertain future, NRECA President Chris Christensen told co-op leaders Tuesday at NRECA’s PowerXchange. “It’s that diversity of experience that allows us to work together to tackle common challenges,” the Montana rancher and f...
Voices of Montana Live From the NRECA 2022 PowerXchange Part 1
Thousands of rural electric cooperatives are meeting in Nashville this week to discuss the current challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and it’s a Montanan leading them. Join us for the discussion with Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association CEO Gary Wiens, Wyoming Rural Electric Cooperatives’ Association E...