The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is warning residents about scammers operating fraudulent county jail websites that target families of inmates in an effort to steal personal and financial information.
OCP has received reports of a fake website, musselshellcountyjail.org, which impersonates the official Musselshell County Detention Center. The site falsely offers inmate lookup services, instructions for mailing money, and misleading information about the facility. Similar fraudulent county jail websites have been detected across Montana, attempting to mislead the public and solicit payments.
To help Montanans avoid falling victim, the Office of Consumer Protection offers the following guidance:
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Verify links: Only use inmate-search websites that end in .mt.gov or official county domains.
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Watch for red flags: Montana jails never ask for money orders mailed to a P.O. Box.
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Inmate lookup is free: Basic inmate information should never require payment.
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Approved money deposits: Funds for inmates should be sent only through Access Corrections, JPay, TouchPay, or directly at the jail.
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When in doubt, call the jail: Always contact the facility directly using contact information listed on the official county website.
The OCP encourages Montanans to remain vigilant and report any suspicious jail websites or related scams.