Milford Police Detective Helps Stop Scam In Progress

MILFORD, CT — Milford Police Det. Kenneth Catino earned a certificate of commendation for helping to stop a scam in progress in which the victims were an elderly local couple.

On Nov. 19, Catino was talking to staff at Peoples Bank and he learned of their concern regarding an
elderly couple who had recently withdrawn a large sum of money from their savings account at
the bank, according to Board of Police Commission meeting minutes.

Two officers subsequently visited the couple but they were uncooperative and did not want to discuss the matter. Catino learned that shortly thereafter the coupled returned to Peoples Bank and closed their account at that bank and opened an account in another bank here in Milford.

Catino strongly felt the couple was being victimized and he did some further research and through that tracked down a family member who went to speak with the couple. The family member contacted Catino and told him it was evident the couple were involved in a familiar scam whereby they receive a message from an alleged family member who is in a dire situation and needs money wired to them.

Fortunately, the couple were receptive to Catino at this time and although they had sent one large sum of money to the alleged relative, through Catino’s effort they never followed through with the second request for a large amount of money. Deputy Chief Rahn stated Catino went above and beyond with the case and this is an admirable and common trait of Catino.