Scam

MISSOULA - The sheriff's office warns that a scammer is trying to take advantage of a recent shooting by pretending to collect donations for a wounded Montana Highway Patrol trooper.

A woman reported to the sheriff's office that she was called by an unknown man who said he was "collecting funds on behalf of Trooper Palmer."

The would-be scammer reportedly hung up when she asked more questions, but the sheriff's office says it's a good reminder to be suspicious of strangers calling on the phone and asking for money.

Other recent reported scams include someone using faked phone numbers to pretend to be calling from the Social Security Administration. Another is purporting to be "Deputy Odlin." No one by the last name of Odlin works for the sheriff's office, although an officer Odlin is at the Missoula Police Department. 

Yet another scammer is also calling registered sex offenders and claiming that they are not compliant on the sex offender registry and demanding money to be compliant. 

"Again, a scam."

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