Watch Out: These Post-Hurricane Scammers Can Steal Your Money or Identity

When it made landfall late last month, Hurricane Helene caused tremendous devastation in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm, is now en route to hit Florida on Wednesday.

Thousands of households are facing property damage and an increasing death toll. What's more, fraudsters and scam artists are capitalizing on the disaster to take advantage of vulnerable residents. Some of these schemes attempt to get victims to part with their money. Others try to extract sensitive information in order to engage in identity theft.

"Criminals may try to get information by pretending to be disaster workers," the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a statement Sunday. "Scam artists may try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from people affected by the disaster." 

While some scams may be obvious, criminals can be crafty about disguising their activities. Here are some examples of post-hurricane scams and ways to protect yourself. 

Home repair and tree removal scams

Government officials are warning about tree removal and home repair scams targeting Hurricane Helene victims. According to Georgia's Office of the Attorney General, scammers and fake contractors known as "storm chasers" may request upfront payments for services related to home improvements or charge you for unnecessary repairs. 

Door-to-door salesmen offering home repairs or upgrades may often offer to pay the homeowner's home insurance deductible to sweeten the pot before jacking up costs for any home repairs they complete. 

According to the Federal Communications Commission, a fraudulent contractor could also ask homeowners for sensitive personal information under the guise of helping them file an insurance claim, or even claim to be a partner with insurance companies. The FCC says you should never give out policy information to a third party you haven't entered into a contract with. 

Homeowners should always speak with their insurance company before agreeing to work with a contractor. It's also smart to check for customer reviews and complaints on the Better Business Bureau website.

🚩 Red flags

• Anyone who offers disaster relief then asks for an upfront payment
• Home contractors offering to pay your insurance deductible or claiming to partner with your insurance company

Disaster assistance scams 

Disaster relief or assistance can be emergency shelter, food and medical supplies or legal help. If you get a call from someone claiming to be a government official with a disaster assistance agency and they ask for money, it is most likely an imposter. 

The FCC underlines that "officials with government disaster assistance agencies do not call or text asking for financial account information." Also, there are no fees required to apply for or receive disaster assistance from FEMA or the Small Business Administration. 

Likewise, if an official government worker or agent knocks on your door, they must carry official identification and are not allowed to ask for money. 

🚩 Red flags

• FEMA representatives offering assistance but unable to show official government identification
• Unsolicited offers from FEMA to help

Fake fundraisers for hurricane victims

Disaster relief charity and donation scams are common right now. A recent news report revealed that scammers are using AI-generated storm damage photos or even photos from storms that took place years ago to solicit donations for victims. Many of the solicitations take place on social media using websites like GoFundMe, which makes them difficult to verify.

When it comes to disaster relief charities, the FCC says you should avoid opening emails from addresses you don't recognize and verify all phone numbers for charities. Only donate to trusted, well-known charities. You should also confirm the legitimacy of charities through their websites, or through the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator or Charity Watch.

🚩 Red flags

• Disaster relief donation requests that cannot be verified online
• Any organization claiming to be a charity that asks for money over the phone

How to avoid identity theft

The most common scams following a natural disaster aim to take your money, while others may try to get your sensitive personal information, including your full name, address, Social Security number and insurance policy information. To avoid becoming a victim, FEMA recommends the following:

• Stay vigilant: Don't trust anyone who offers disaster relief assistance while also asking for money.
• Avoid unsolicited contact: FEMA will only contact you if you request assistance or call them first.
• Request official identification: FEMA workers have official government identification and are required to show it when requested.  
• Do not give out personal information: Avoid sharing sensitive personal information for the purpose of disaster relief with anyone other than a verified FEMA representative.

Aura

CNET's pick for the best identity theft protection service

See at Aura

Lock your credit and safeguard your sensitive data.

See at Aura

How to report hurricane-related scams, fraud or ID theft

If you suspect fraud or a scam related to hurricane damage or disaster relief, you should call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline toll-free at 1-866-720-5721.  

You can also report suspected fraud cases to the FEMA Investigations and Inspections Division by calling 866-223-0814 or emailing StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov. 

Additionally, you can file a complaint online with the FCC for hurricane scams perpetrated over the phone. 

Additional steps you can take include:

• Contacting your state consumer protection office 
• Reporting corruption, fraud, mismanagement or misconduct to the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General
• Filing a complaint with the National Center for Disaster Fraud

If you have become a victim of identity theft or you suspect it, you should report your case to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. Also consider setting up fraud alerts for your credit reports, or even freezing your credit with the three nationwide credit bureaus so nobody can open new credit accounts in your name. For added peace of mind, consider signing up for identity theft protection.

More identity theft protection advice:

• Want to Freeze Your Credit After the National Public Data Breach? Here's How
• Your Personal Data May Be on the Dark Web. Here's How You Can Protect Yourself Against Identity Thieves
  
• Data Breach Exposes Social Security Numbers of 237,000 Comcast Customers. Here's What We Know