10/04/2024 | Press release | Archived content
MACON, Ga. - U.S. Attorney Peter Leary is warning the public to be vigilant to fraud attempts in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
"Communities across the Middle District of Georgia and the Southeast are reeling from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. It pains me that there are criminals who would exploit storm victims trying to rebuild their lives and take advantage of people's goodwill toward their struggling neighbors," said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary for the Middle District of Georgia. "Let this serve as a warning to anyone attempting to scam Hurricane Helene victims and the people helping those in need: Our office will prosecute fraudsters to the fullest extent allowed under law."
On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions.
The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings and other similar methods. Before donating to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including:
The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm. Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.