SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — A fraud scheme targeting senior citizens is on the rise in Sarasota County, the FBI and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office warned in a joint statement Tuesday.
The scammers use Tech Support and Government Impersonation scams to identify victims, then instruct those victims to liquidate assets into cash and/or buy gold, silver, and other precious metals.
1 dead after train, pickup collide near Lakeland
The victims are then instructed to meet couriers in person to hand over their cash or metals for safeguarding in a protected account on their behalf. Officials say the victims never heard from the scammers again.
“We’ve had victims report losses in excess of $300,000,” FBI Tampa Field Office Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor said in a statement. “These criminals follow a well-rehearsed script and are skilled at pressure tactics. Your best defense is to hang up on the scammers, never click on suspicious links, and report to law enforcement immediately.”
“We’re confident, by working with our federal partners, we can help bring more awareness to this type of sophisticated fraud we continue to see,” Sarasota Sheriff Kurt Hoffman said in a statement. “Our Economic Crimes Unit has open investigations, and we continue to monitor these fraud trends, especially towards our elderly residents. We remain committed to bringing these scammers to justice through the dedicated work of our detectives.”
If you are someone or know someone who is a victim of fraud in Sarasota County, call the sheriff’s office at 941-316-1201.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Source Agencies
