With hurricane season in full swing, FEMA warns that there are many con artists and criminals that can try to steal money or personal information during the vulnerable time that is the aftermath of a storm.
According to FEMA, thieves will try to apply for FEMA assistance by using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from those impacted by storms.
Unfortunately, senior citizens are often the intended targets for scammers.
The organization advises that if a FEMA inspector comes to one’s home without them having submitted a FEMA application, it is likely that their information may have been used without their knowledge to create a FEMA application.
If this case arises, FEMA wants the homeowners to inform the inspector that they did not apply with FEMA and a request to stop will be submitted.
However, if a letter is received in the mail but assistance was not requested, the recipient should call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-33-62.
The helpline can also help assist in creating a proper FEMA application after the scammed account is taken care of.
The Social Security Administration reminds someone being a target of a scam that the best approach is to stay calm and be cautious of any contact with anyone claiming to be from a government agency.
As a result of the scammers targeting FEMA and its possible clients, the Scams FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance crews are in place with housing inspectors and other officials assigned to work in areas that have been impacted by storms in an attempt to curb the threat of fraud.
Members of these crews carry official identification badges with photo IDs. FEMA representatives never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.
One of the easiest ways to determine a scammer from an official is that an official agent with FEMA will never promise a disaster grant in return for payment, which means requests for banking information from someone claiming to be a FEMA inspector is a certain red flag, as FEMA inspectors are not authorized to collect personal finance information.
Anyone who believes they are the victim of a scam, must report it immediately to their local police or sheriff's department or contact Florida’s Office of the Attorney General by calling 866-9-NO-SCAM (866-966-7226) or going to myfloridalegal.com to file a fraud complaint.
