New Phone Scam Impersonates Montana Highway Patrol

Someone is calling homes in Montana and pretending to be a member of the Montana Highway Patrol.

The phone call is part of an elaborate scam in which the caller asks for money to help bail out a relative that needs extra funds to post bail and/or get charges dropped.

Montana Highway Patrol District 1 Commander Captain James Kitchin says the scam has been reported in Whitefish, Kalispell and Great Falls.

"We even had one in Great Falls where the guy actually called back as the targeted victim was filling out a complaint," says Kitchin. "What we ask people to do if they receive calls like this is to call the highway patrol or local law enforcement and register a complaint."

So far, it does not appear that the scammer has been able to trick his callers into sending away their money.