Elderly Suncoast woman believed she was being scammed; detective discovered she had $108K in unclaimed funds.
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
Bradenton Police
BPD’s Elder Fraud Unit often receives calls from older adults who’ve been scammed – but Barb’s call was different. She contacted Detective Jim Curulla and explained she’d received multiple offers from law firms and private investigators offering to help her claim money she believed she wasn’t owed.
After meeting with Barb, Detective Curulla discovered that she was being targeted by companies assisting with claims to the Florida Department of Financial Services. A search of the Unclaimed Property database revealed that Barb had over $100,000 in stock dividends from an employer she had worked for over thirty years ago.
With Jim’s help, Barb filed the necessary paperwork, and she recently received a check for $108,000! Since she no longer drives, Jim gave her a ride to the bank to ensure the check was safely deposited.
If you’re a Florida resident – or ever have been – you can determine if you have unclaimed money here: https://www.fltreasurehunt.gov/