Scams: What to Watch Out For After a Flood, Tornado, Hurricane or Other Disaster

Hurricane Scams: Avoid these Hurricane Florence Scams!

After a hurricane departs, scammers come out of the woodwork to take advantage of people have had a loss, and to take advantage of people who want to help!  So many of the emails and websites you see claiming to help victims of a hurricane or other flood or tragedy are complete scams and frauds.  

If you are affected by a flood, tornado, hurricane or other natural disaster, you should register with FEMA (online or 1-800-621-FEMA) to see if you qualify for aid.

If you want to donate to a charity see these tips:

• The Federal Trade Commision (FTC) has articles and resources, including links to six organizations that can help you check out individual charities.
• See this video about charity fraud video and infographic about how to verify whether a hurricane relief charity is real or a scam. 

Research the charity

•  Online: Search on phrases like "hurricane relief" or "homeless kids" and include and phrases like "best charity" or "highly rated charity."
• Also search on the name of the charity and the word "scam", "complaint," "review," and "rating,"
• You can use these reputable organizations to help you research charities.
  • BBB Wise Giving Alliance
  • Charity Navigator
  • CharityWatch
  • GuideStar
• The IRS's Tax Exempt Organization Search will tell you if your donation would be tax deductible.
• Check with your state's charity regulator at nasconet.org. Most states require the charity or its fundraiser to register to ask for donations.

Be careful how you donate

• Never donate by cash, gift card, or by wiring money. ONLY scammers will use these methods!
• Instead, pay by credit card (best) or check.
• Keep a record of all donations; you'll want that for tax purposes.
• Review your credicard and checking account statements to make sure you're only charged the amount you agreed to donate and that you're not signed up to make a recurring donation.
• Before clicking on a link to donate online, make sure you know who is receiving your donation. See this FTC page, "Donating Through an Online Giving Portal" for more information.

Be aware of these common scammers' tricks

• Scammers try to pressure you and rush you into making a donation.
• Some scammers try to trick you into paying them by thanking you for a donation that you never made.
• Don't believe your caller ID: Scammers can change caller ID (called spoofing) to make a call look like it's from a local area code.
• Don't trust a good sounding name: Some scammers use names that sound a lot like the names of real charities.
• Scammers typically make lots of vague and sentimental claims but give no specifics about how your donation will be used.
• If you see any red flags, or you're not sure about how a charity will use your donation, or you just don't feel comfortable; give to a different charity. There are many worthy organizations who will use your donation wisely.

Other hurricane scams and tips

• Hotels are not required to accommodate your pets in case of emergency, except for true service animals (not your comfort pets). See this page for government tips for pet evacuation.
• USAA policy holders are not automatically eligible for gas, food, and hotel reimbursement. That is a special rider that you must have previously signed up for (and paid for). Check your policy expecting this benefit to be there.

How to report a scam charity

• Report scams by using the FTC's online complaint form .
• Also report the scam to your state charity regulator.
• Share any information you have about the scammers, like the name of the organization or fundraiser, their phone number, and what the fundraiser said.
  

 

If you are the victim, see these tips to avoid being scammed after a flood or other natural disaster:

• Use reliable, licensed contractors - Contact your local building inspector's office for information on local contractors. You may also check with the local Better Business Bureau, homebuilders' association, trade council, or your state's Attorney General's Consumer Protection to see if the contracting firm has any unanswered complaints against it.
• Get a written estimate - Be sure to obtain a written estimate for the job and read the fine print. Compare the services and prices of several reputable contractors before making a final decision. Hire local contractors, if possible. Some contractors charge a fee for an estimate, which is often applied to the price of subsequent repairs they make.
• Check references - Contractors should be willing to provide the names of previous customers. Call some former customers who had similar work done to make sure they were satisfied with the job.
• Ask for proof of insurance - Make sure the contractor carries general liability insurance and workers' compensation. If the contractor is not insured, the homeowner may be liable for accidents that occur on the property or to the house/building.
• Insist on a written contract - A complete contract should clearly state all the tasks to be performed, all associated costs and the payment schedule. Never sign a blank contract or one with blank spaces. Make sure the contract clearly states who will apply for the necessary permits or licenses. Have a lawyer review the contract if substantial costs are involved and keep a copy for your records.
• Get any guarantees in writing - Any guarantees made by the contractor should be written into the contract. The guarantee should clearly state what is guaranteed, who is responsible for the guarantee and how long the guarantee is valid.
• Have work inspected - If excavation work is being performed (e.g., sewers or basement walls) make sure a qualified inspector examines the work before it is hidden from view to avoid similar problems in the future.
• Make final payments when the work is completed - Do not sign completion papers or make the final payment until the work is completed to your satisfaction. A reputable contractor will not threaten you or pressure you to sign if the job is not finished properly.
• Pay by credit card - Avoid on-the-spot cash payments. The safest route is to write a check to the contracting company. A reasonable down payment is 30 percent of the total cost of the project, to be paid upon initial delivery of materials. Federal law gives consumers a three-day "cooling off" period for unsolicited door-to door sales of more than $25.
• Cancel the contract if necessary - Canceling a contract should be done within three business days of signing. Be sure to follow the procedures for cancellation that are set out in the contract. Send the notification by registered mail with a return receipt to be signed by the contractor.
   

And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive.  We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!

 

 

 

For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.