Federal agencies advise public of hurricane scams

The Federal Trade Commission, along with the Department of Justice and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, warned consumers about circulating scams amid natural disasters. In a joint statement, the federal agencies said scammers are exploiting current weather emergencies by taking advantage of those seeking recovery or requesting donations for disaster victims.

The joint statement says, “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.”

Report any scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.