- [Announcer] Montana PBS "Equal Time", offering unedited time to candidates for State Auditor.

(suspenseful music) Fraudulent financial schemes are on the rise.

As State Auditor, how would your office address these losses targeting residents in an aging state?

- Seniors are certainly susceptible, but Montanans of all ages are victimized.

The best defense is education.

Those behind the fraud will always find new ways to scam innocent Montanans.

The primary effort must be to stop it before it happens by making all Montanans aware of the scheme so they can be more critical and guarded in their use of social platforms, media, and emails that the fraudsters use to reach them.

I will make this a priority of the auditor's office, but I will also collaborate with agencies and organizations working to do the same in an effort to maximize the effort.

The FBI, for example, has recently added resources in Montana to address this.

I respect the work of the FBI and will work with them to protect all Montanans.

- Protecting Montana's insurance and securities customers is one of the most important duties of the State Auditor.

The last 20 years I have, first, as a private practice attorney, and second, as President of the Montana Public Service Commission, spent my entire professional career defending the interests of consumers and investors, and I will continue to do so in this key position.

I have zero tolerance for those who violate the law or attempt to financially abuse seniors or other vulnerable groups.

The Auditor's Office is a law enforcement agency.

Having been an attorney, I will zealously defend all Montanans, especially our vulnerable seniors from the fraudsters and scammers who would seek to prey on them.

I will also undertake public education efforts related to fraud prevention and awareness.

This effort would include holding consumer information forums in communities around the state, namely in underserved areas of the state, such as reservations and Eastern Montana.

- [Announcer] Montana PBS "Equal Time" was made possible by the Greater Montana Foundation.

All "Equal Time" segments are available online at MontanaPBS.org/equaltime.

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