In the wake of the recent destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe has issued a stern warning to the public: stay alert for scams targeting hurricane relief efforts. As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, from identity theft to fake charity drives, the aftermath of natural disasters can be a ground for fraud.
Hurricane Helene devastated not only Florida's Big Bend Region when it struck on September 26, but its impact rippled across several states. And as the U.S. Attorney has witnessed following past national calamities, criminals are targeting storm victims in wake of the disaster, eager to exploit both them and those wanting to help. "Report suspected disaster fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling (866) 720-5721 or by going online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm," Lapointe said to U.S. Attorney’s Office, guiding the public in taking action against such exploitation.
Opportunists use a variety of ways, including, texts, social media, door-to-door solicitations, and websites, to deceive people into donating to fraudulent causes. To help the public against such ploys, Lapointe has laid out directives—verify the legitimacy of charities through Internet resources, never click unsolicited links, be wary of high-pressure tactics, and check that charitable organizations use .org domains.
The public's patience should be as enduring as their diligence. "Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics," Lapointe warns in U.S. Attorney’s Office. In these moments, when affliction renders our judgement vulnerable, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reminds to exercise a heightened scrutiny of where, how, and to whom donations are made. Money transfer services are a red flag, they advise, and one should not cut checks to individuals or blindly trust emails bearing unsolicited disaster area photos—the latter may harbor malicious viruses.
Founded post-Hurricane Katrina, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) is a beacon for battling such exploitation, housing staff from over fifty agencies. It operates a 24/7 hotline at (866) 720-5721. The NCDF along with U.S. Attorney Lapointe implore those suspecting shady dealings to reach out.
