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For all the people stepping up to help victims of recent flooding and severe storms, emergency responders say there are also those who try to cash in on the misfortune.
The West Virginia Emergency Management Division is warning survivors of those storms to be aware of fraud and scam attempts.
“There’s an urgency to just get everything back in order. You want to recover as fast as possible so you can get back to life as normal as quickly as possible,” Ally Stout, public information officer for the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, said.
“In West Virginia, we typically always want to help each other and come together for everybody. But we’ve got to be aware of those who, that’s not their intention.”
Emergency responders say there are some clues: inspectors with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will never ask for your nine-digit claim registration number – they already have it – or your social security number, bank account digits or income information.
FEMA Housing Inspectors
- Ask the person to show you their identification badge. Federal employees always wear an official government badge to identify themselves.
Fake Offers Of Local Or Federal Aid
- Don’t trust someone who asks for money. Federal and local disaster workers do not ask for, nor accept, money.
- FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.
- Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant and asks for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.
Fraudulent Building Contractors
- Use licensed or verified local contractors backed by reliable references.
- To find licensed certified contractors check the WV Contractor Licensing Board.
- Don’t pay more than half the costs of repairs in advance.
- Demand that contractors detail the job to be done with guarantees in writing.
If you suspect fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721. If you suspect identity theft, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at identitytheft.gov.
For more information, reach out to West Virginia Emergency Management Division at 304-558-5380, online at emd.wv.gov or via the official WVEMD Facebook Page.