Most of us like to think we’re immune to scams. That only happens to someone else, right? The truth is, scammers know what they’re doing, and they’re getting smarter every year. It takes real vigilance to keep your guard up.
In Florida, there’s a good reason to be cautious. Elder fraud is an enormous problem here, affecting over 88,000 people every year. Recently, there was an official warning about a surge in artificial intelligence utility scams. Florida Power & Light has been alerting its customers about a new scam using AI to target people over the phone.
These scammers aren’t sending the typical awkward robocalls anymore, they use AI that can mimic natural conversation, making the calls sound convincing and personal. The company urges everyone to stay alert and not let their guard down when a caller claims to be from the utility.
Here’s their advice: never give out your personal information over the phone. If someone calls asking for sensitive details, hang up. Use the phone number on your utility bill, not any number you were given, to call back and confirm if the call was real.
Protecting yourself from phone scams in Florida comes down to three essentials: block unknown numbers, keep your personal data private, and verify anything that seems suspicious. If you get a robocall, hang up right away, don’t bother pressing any numbers. Ignore what shows up on caller ID since scammers can fake those names and numbers. If you’re unsure, ask for a call back number, then track down the company’s official phone number and call them yourself.
If you get a strange text message? Don’t click any links. Delete messages saying you’ve won a prize or owe money and don’t respond. For spam texts, forward them to 7726 (which spells SPAM on your keypad).
For emails, double-check the sender’s full email address, not just the display name. Delete any attachments from people you don’t know, and hover over links before you click to see the real web address. Mark anything suspicious as junk or spam.
And the basics still matter. Never give out your social security number, bank details, or passwords over the phone or online. Report anything fishy to the Florida Attorney General.
Fraudsters work hard to appear trustworthy, so be careful who you trust. Don’t hand out your date of birth, mother’s maiden name, or credit card information over the phone or by email, especially if you didn’t start the conversation. If a payment method feels weird or risky, use a credit card, which offers better protection. Never wire money to someone who claims it’s urgent.
When something doesn’t feel right, ask questions and do your own research. Call the business or agency directly to double-check.
Keep a close eye on your finances, too. Never lend your credit card to anyone. If your card goes missing, report it right away. The same goes if a new card you requested never shows up. Notify your bank if you change addresses. Shred financial documents before you toss them and don’t keep extra cards or IDs in your wallet.
Be wary of “free trial” offers. Some companies hook you with a trial and keep billing you, so read the terms and check your statements for charges you don’t recognize.
If you think you’ve been scammed, cut off contact immediately. Secure your accounts, call your bank, credit card company, or any payment app you use. Change your passwords and set up multi-factor authentication. Don’t answer calls or texts from the scammer. Make a record, save screenshots, write details, and keep track of dates, amounts, phone numbers, and emails.
Next, report what happened to the Florida Attorney General online or by phone (1-866-9-NO-SCAM). You should also file a report with your local police and notify the Florida Department of Law Enforcement about cybercrimes. On the federal level, give all the details to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and, if online scams are involved, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Staying safe isn’t always easy with scams getting more advanced, but keeping these habits can save a lot of trouble down the road. Better to act quickly and report a scam than to become another statistic.
