Unfortunately, when natural disasters hit innocent victims and good-natured people want to help those in need, scammers swoop in to manipulate the bleak situation to commit fraud or price gouging.
Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton , the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a warning to consumers about scammers trying to exploit these recent natural disasters to launch scams. The scams include:
- Fraudulent charities soliciting donations for disaster victims that imitate the names of charities linked to the disaster.
- Scammers impersonating government officials, offering disaster relief in exchange for personal information or money.
- Scammers promoting non-existent businesses or investment opportunities related to disaster recovery, such as rebuilding or flood-proofing.
- Price gouging for essential goods and services needed by disaster victims.
According to the warning:
To avoid scams and frauds while you’re recovering from a hurricane or another natural disaster, remember only scammers will insist you pay for services by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or in cash. Avoid anyone who promises they can help you qualify for relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ― for a fee. That’s a scam. FEMA will never require you to pay a fee to get disaster relief. Never sign your insurance check over to someone else. Be sure to research contractors and get estimates from more than one before signing a contract for work. Get a written contract for repairs and read it carefully before signing it. The FTC has information for consumers on how to avoid scams and prepare for natural disasters, and the CFPB has published a disaster and emergencies toolkit—both provide tips and tools to follow during natural disasters. We all want to help victims of natural disasters, but be careful and help in a safe manner so resources go directly to those in need and not to scammers.
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