Montana DOJ Warns of Fake Jail Websites Targeting Families of Inmates

MONTANA — The Montana Department of Justice’s Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is alerting the public to a growing scam involving fraudulent websites posing as county jails in an attempt to deceive and steal from families of inmates.

According to OCP, fake sites — including one impersonating the Musselshell County Detention Center at musselshellcountyjail.org — falsely claim to offer inmate lookup services, mailing instructions, money deposit information, and other facility details. These sites are not affiliated with any Montana county and are designed to mislead users into providing money or personal information.

State officials say several similar scam websites have been identified across Montana.

How to Spot and Avoid the Scam

The Office of Consumer Protection urges Montanans to verify links before providing any information. Legitimate government websites will end in .mt.gov or be hosted through an official county domain.

Residents should also watch for red flags, including:

• Requests to send money orders to P.O. Boxes, which no Montana jail uses

• Inmate lookup tools requiring payment (legitimate lookup services are always free)

• Unfamiliar or unofficial website addresses

  
  

Funds for inmates should only be sent through approved services such as Access Corrections, JPay, TouchPay, or by paying directly at the jail. When in doubt, officials advise contacting the jail using the phone number listed on the county’s official website.

How to Report a Scam

Montanans who encounter suspicious websites or believe they may have been targeted can report the scam to the Office of Consumer Protection by email at contactocp@mt.gov, by phone at 406-444-4500, or online through the DOJ’s consumer protection portal.