Bradenton's Elder Fraud Unit has tracked $11.4 million in senior losses since 2024
The Bradenton Police Department's Elder Fraud Unit has investigated more than $11.4 million in losses to seniors since forming in early 2024, detectives said during a July 27 television appearance on WWSB. They're urging Lakewood Ranch-area residents to learn the warning signs.
The message carries weight locally. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, 30.5% of Lakewood Ranch residents were 65 or older. A 2026 population estimate from World Population Review puts the community's senior count at roughly 13,528 among approximately 48,500 total residents.
A two-person team tackling a growing problem
Detectives Jim Curulla and Deana McNeal staff the unit, which focuses exclusively on financial crimes against victims 60 and older. Curulla, a 25-year Bradenton police veteran who previously worked homicide with the Manatee Homicide Investigation Unit, and McNeal, who came from patrol and the Community Redevelopment Area unit, say the specialization is rare in law enforcement.
Cryptocurrency-related scams are driving a growing share of losses. The unit said money sent through crypto transactions is often impossible to recover, though detectives told WWSB they have clawed back some funds without specifying amounts.
The 'five P's' of fraud
During the July 27 appearance, Curulla and McNeal outlined five warning signs common to nearly every scam they investigate:
- Pretend — Scammers pose as a trusted organization such as a bank, the IRS or law enforcement.
- Problem — They claim there is an urgent problem with your account or identity.
- Prize — They say you've won a prize or are owed money.
- Pressure — They push you to act immediately.
- Pay — They demand payment in a specific, hard-to-trace way, often cryptocurrency or gift cards.
A pattern across Manatee County
The BPD unit's cases are part of a broader wave. A separate Manatee County Sheriff's Office investigation, reported June 25, uncovered a statewide elder fraud ring with more than 40 victims across Florida and losses exceeding $3.5 million. One victim, a 79-year-old Manatee County woman, lost more than $200,000 in a cryptocurrency scheme.
"People get wrapped up in that cycle of fear where they think that if they don't do it right now, something bad is going to happen to them or their future," MCSO Economic Crimes Detective Gary Cummings said in a June 25 report on the investigation, describing how scammers exploit urgency.
In another Bradenton case, an 80-year-old veteran lost $1.4 million after men posing as U.S. Customs agents convinced him to buy gold bars. A federal judge sentenced one conspirator, Syed M. Makki, on May 21 to 15.5 years in prison and ordered $4,754,000 in restitution.
Nationally, the FBI's Internet Crime Report released in 2025 recorded $7.75 billion in elder fraud losses across more than 201,000 complaints, a 37% jump from the prior year.
How to protect yourself
BPD has published a free resource guide with large-print formatting at bradentonpd.com/elder-fraud-unit. Residents who suspect fraud can call the Bradenton Police non-emergency line at 941-932-9300.
