Bradenton Woman Believed She Was Duped, Instead Received $100K

BRADENTON, Fla. — A woman from Bradenton initially suspected a scam but ended up discovering she was $100,000 richer.

According to a post on Facebook by the Bradenton Police Department, Detective Jim Curulla from the Elder Fraud Unit received a call from a woman named Barbara. She reported being contacted by several law firms and private investigators offering assistance in claiming the money.

Initially, Barbara believed the unclaimed money did not belong to her, as noted in the police department’s social media update.

While reviewing her case, Detective Curulla discovered that these companies were attempting to help her with legitimate claims to the Florida Department of Financial Services.

The Florida Department of Financial Services manages various financial responsibilities within the state, as stated on their official government website.

It turns out Barbara, a senior citizen from Bradenton, had over $100,000 in unclaimed stock dividends from a former employer dating back more than thirty years.

Thanks to the detective’s guidance, Barbara was able to complete the necessary paperwork and receive her check. She was accompanied by Detective Curulla to ensure that her check was securely deposited on September 3.

If you receive suspicious communications that could be scams, the Better Business Bureau provides numerous educational resources to help you identify scams.

Bradenton police also advised that if you are, or have been, a Florida resident, you can check for unclaimed money on the state’s official website: https://www.fltreasurehunt.gov/