FBI HONORS BILLINGS COMMUNITY LEADER ALEX WARD WITH NATIONAL AWARD FOR FRAUD-PREVENTION WORK

BILLINGS, Mont. — The FBI has honored retired police officer, military veteran and community volunteer Alex Ward with the 2025 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for his work protecting Montana residents from financial fraud.

Special Agent in Charge Justin Gerken of the FBI Billings Field Office presented the award to Ward in recognition of his service to communities across the state and his efforts to increase awareness of financial crimes targeting older Americans.

Ward previously worked for AARP Montana and now serves the organization as a volunteer. He has partnered with the FBI and other outreach programs to help residents recognize scams, understand common fraud tactics and report suspicious activity before additional victims are harmed.

The Director’s Community Leadership Award was established in 1990 to publicly recognize individuals and organizations working to improve their communities through education and the prevention of crime and violence.

Each year, one recipient is selected by each of the FBI’s 56 field offices. Ward is the first person to receive the award from the FBI Billings Field Office since the office was established in December 2025.

“The fight against financial crime extends beyond law enforcement, and every informed citizen is one less potential victim,” Gerken said. “We are proud to recognize Mr. Ward for his unwavering commitment to raising awareness, strengthening fraud prevention efforts, and helping the FBI safeguard communities across our state.”

Ward’s work addresses a growing financial threat affecting Americans across age groups, with older adults continuing to report some of the largest losses.

The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report recorded nearly $21 billion in reported losses from cyber-enabled crimes across the United States.

People over the age of 60 submitted more than 201,000 complaints and reported losses exceeding $7.7 billion. Those figures demonstrate the scale of financial harm facing older Americans, who may be targeted through investment fraud, impersonation schemes, fraudulent technical-support services, romance scams and other forms of financial deception.

Montana residents submitted more than 2,400 complaints to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center during 2025. Reported losses across the state surpassed $53 million.

Fraud-awareness programs can help residents recognize methods criminals use to create urgency, fear, trust or emotional dependence. Reporting an attempted or completed scam can also provide investigators with information needed to connect cases and identify broader criminal operations.

Since 2025, Ward has worked with the FBI and state outreach programs to build a fraud-fighting team focused on prevention and public awareness.

His work has included co-hosting presentations and staffing information tables at public events, creating opportunities for residents to speak directly with fraud-prevention representatives and learn how to identify suspicious demands for money or personal information.

Ward has also helped connect law-enforcement partners with Native communities, financial institutions and local organizations across Montana.

Those partnerships expand the reach of fraud-prevention programs beyond conventional law-enforcement settings. Financial institutions may identify unusual transactions, community organizations can reach residents who need direct assistance, and trusted local representatives can help deliver warnings in ways that are accessible to the people most at risk.

Ward’s background as a police officer and military veteran gives him experience in public service, while his work with AARP Montana has placed him in direct contact with older residents who may encounter sophisticated scams.

By connecting law enforcement with older residents, Native communities, financial institutions and local organizations, Ward has helped build a wider fraud-prevention network across Montana. The FBI honored that work as an example of how informed and committed citizens can strengthen the safety of an entire community.

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