New Phishing Scams Targeting Made in Montana Vendors

Scams seem to be popping up anywhere and everywhere but this most recent scam is a real bummer because it almost feels personal. New scams are targeting vendors of the Made in Montana Tradeshow for Food & Gifts.

The Tradeshow is designed to connect Montana producers with buyers/retail and is a nexus for supporting the idea of shopping locally. Montana Products fall into four categories:

• Made in Montana
• Native American Made in Montana
• Grown in Montana
• Taste our Place

This year's Tradeshow will take place March 8 and 9 at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena, Montana

The organizers have released an important public service announcement about this year's event.

With the show coming up in a few weeks, preparations for the show are taking place right now, which is why the related scam is so tricky. Made in Montana has pointed out in a post on Instagram that the Tradeshow is sold out. They closed to applications back in October of 2023. Yet, a scam on social media is advertising available exhibitor booths.

Take a look at the PSA below:

With the scams spreading via email and social media there are a few ways to stay vigilant.

• Check the email address on any vendor solicitation. Does it have numbers in place of letters or mention a company that you've never seen associated with the Made in Montana Tradeshow? As they say in the Instagram post, you'll only get an email from a mt.gov email address if it's related to the 2024 Tradeshow, so best to ignore/delete the message.
• Don't click on any links are attachments, especially if they are requesting money.
• Use the website instead of social media to confirm important information. The most up-to-date information will be available on the Made in Montana Tradeshow website.