Protect Yourself from a Gold Digger -- Thursday, May 22 at 9:30 a.m.

The MSU Teton County Extension Office will be showing the video, Gold Diggers: Investment Fraud in the Treasure State on Thursday, May 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the Choteau Baptist Church.  The showing of the video on investment fraud is free to the public.  While no registration is required, a courtesy call is appreciated to plan seating.  The documentary, Gold Diggers: Investment Fraud in the Treasure State, produced by the Montana Commissioner of Securities, tells the story of two of Montana's most infamous investment scams.

"More than two hundred years ago, prospectors flocked to what we now call the Treasure State in search of fortunes," said Lindeen.  "Though Montana's prospector days are long behind us, we have a new brand of gold diggers who would rather prey on our trust than dig for gold.  Modern day gold diggers are scammers and con-artists who can steal a life savings in the blink of an eye."

Narrated by award-winning actor Bill Pullman, Gold Diggers tracks two recent cases of investment fraud in Montana: the Arthur Heffelfinger case in Helena and the Anne Marie Schlenker case in Bozeman.  In total, the two scams robbed dozens of Montana investors of more than $3 million, leaving victims in financial ruin.  The film features interviews with victims, securities experts, and the regulators and attorneys who investigated and prosecuted the two scams.

"Education is the silver bullet when it comes to fighting fraud," said Lindeen.  "The more Montanans know about their rights and where they can turn for help, the better they can protect themselves from modern day gold diggers."

Lindeen's office produced Gold Diggers with a grant from the Investor Protection Trust, a nationally-recognized, independent organization that helps consumers make informed investment decisions.  All funding for the Trust comes from voluntary and court-ordered contributions from criminals who commit investment fraud.

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