Disaster Scams

Disasters also unleash a torrent of bogus charities, which get busy pumping out calls, text, emails and social media posts soliciting donations for relief work. As hurricanes near landfall, scammers snap up internet domains featuring the storm’s name and words like “help” and “relief.” Other faux fundraisers imply a connection to well-known aid organizations like the Red Cross or Oxfam. You’ll find more on spotting charity scams in the Fraud Resource Center.

Don’t let fraud compound a disaster. Take these precautions to ensure you are getting, or giving, the right kind of help.

Warning Signs

• A contractor offers to do post-disaster work on the spot and asks for payment in advance.
• A supposed government agent asks for payment to do an inspection or help you apply for disaster assistance.
• You get a call from someone asking to verify your FEMA registration when you have not yet applied to the agency for assistance.
• A disaster charity’s name or web address resembles but does not quite match that of an established aid organization, and its website offers few details about it (for example, its leadership, physical location or history of relief work).

How to protect yourself from this scam

• Do due diligence before hiring a contractor. Look for a business name and phone number on their vehicle. Get references, look up their Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile and check that they are licensed with your state. Make sure they carry liability and workmen’s compensation coverage.
• Do get detailed written estimates for repairs. Read contracts thoroughly before signing, and keep copies of all paperwork.
• Do make sure, before repair work starts, that your insurance company will cover it.
• Do verify that a public adjuster seeking to handle your claim is licensed. You can check with your state’s insurance department.
• Do ask to see a purported FEMA representative’s official ID. A real agent will have a laminated photo badge. A FEMA shirt or jacket is not proof of identity. If you want to double-check, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
• Do give to charities with a proven track record of disaster work. Use online resources like Charity Navigator, CharityWatch, GuideStar or the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance to check an organization’s bona fides.

• Don’t agree to door-to-door solicitations for donations or repairs. Even if they seem legitimate, ask for more information rather than giving money on the spot.
• Don’t sign over insurance checks to contractors or sign documents giving them rights to your insurance claims. Pay them yourself, preferably by credit card.
• Don’t give personal or financial data to someone claiming to be from FEMA. The agency will ask for Social Security and bank account numbers when you apply for disaster assistance online or by phone, but a FEMA representative will not do so in person.
• Don’t donate by text before checking with the charity to confirm the number.
• Don’t take disaster solicitations on social media or crowdfunding sites at face value. Research the messenger before hitting the “donate” button.
• Don’t be swayed by vague, sentimental appeals. Ask for specifics about how the charity helps disaster victims.
• Don’t click links or open attachments in email and social media solicitations unless you’re sure who sent it. They could be delivery systems for malware.

More Resources

• The FEMA website’s fraud page has more details on spotting suspicious activity and outlines how the agency communicates with survivors.
• You can report disaster scams to:
  • NCDF (866-720-5721 or disaster@leo.gov)
  • FEMA (Office of the Chief Security Officer, 866-223-0814 or FEMA-OCSO-Tipline@fema.dhs.gov)
  • the Federal Trade Commission (online or 877-382-4357)
  • your state’s charity regulator