How do you know if you’re being scammed? Bradenton police offer these tips
Scams targeting Bradenton’s senior population are on the rise, and police say they have tips to help avoid financial ruin at the hands of a criminal.
According to Jim Curulla, a lead detective with the Bradenton Police Department’s Elder Fraud Unit, a key to scam prevention is understanding the technology and using a healthy dose of caution.
“We talk about artificial intelligence, we talk about spoofing, we talk about technology,” Curulla said. “Technology is phenomenal at one point, but if you don’t understand it … That’s when you become a victim.”
According to the National Institute of Justice, scams targeting people 60 and older increased by 33% from 2010 to 2020. Scams involving that age group resulted in $3.4 billion in losses in 2023. According to the FBI, that’s up 11% from the year before.
The Elder Fraud Unit stresses using the “Five Ps” to spot scams — pretending, problems, prizes, pressure and paying. The “Five Ps” method helps people identify five red flags that might be a sign of a scamming techniques.
If someone is pretending to be from an organization you know, saying there is a problem or, on the other hand, that you have won a prize, those are red flags that the situation may be a scam. The other Ps include being pressured to act immediately or being told to pay in a specific way. These are also warning signs.
Curulla and McNeal also stress the importance of having honest, thorough conversations about this issue with the seniors in your life.
“They have to have a conversation with that senior family member, or that senior friend,” Curulla said. “Let them know these scams occur. Let them know that technology is out there.”
Police also encourage seniors to go to a trusted family member, friend or their phone carrier to learn how to best utilize the safety and security features on their mobile device.
Residents can also sign up for Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s Property Alert System, which alerts users whenever official records, such as deeds or mortgages, are recorded under the user’s name.
