U.S. Attorney Handberg Cautions Against Disaster Fraud Following Hurricane Helene

Tampa, FL - In the wake of the extreme devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg reminds residents that as with any major disaster, there are unscrupulous thieves who seek to take advantage of the environment to line their own pockets.

"As Florida continues to recover in the aftermath of the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Helene, it's especially important to be vigilant against fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters," stated U.S. Attorney Handberg. "Our office stands ready to assist in holding accountable individuals who would take advantage of disaster victims. We are committed to aggressively prosecuting those who commit this type of fraud."

The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Justice and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies to form a national coordinating agency within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud.

The NCDF was established in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region. It is the national coordinating agency for all man-made and natural disasters. NCDF's Gulf Coast headquarters is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, there is no indication that criminals will slow down their efforts to commit fraud on individuals already victimized by the storm. The following examples of disaster-related fraud are based on over 220,000 historical complaints submitted to the NCDF:

• Fake charities immediately soliciting donations using the names of well-known charities or appearing reasonable as related to a disaster
• Individuals impersonating government officials and insurance company representatives advising that disaster assistance will be made available should the potential victim provide a sum of money or personal identifiers such as date of birth, social security number, and bank account information (name of financial institution, routing number, and account number)
• Individuals soliciting victims to invest in non-existent businesses and ventures offering recovery efforts such as cleanup, rebuilding, and making structures, such as homes, more resistant to future disasters by elevating structures to minimize future flood risks
• Individuals overcharging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster, also known as price-gouging

In addition, based on the type of disaster, individuals are frequently victimized by theft of property from businesses and residences abandoned because of a disaster (either pre-disaster evacuation or to obtain living accommodations because of damaged apartments and homes).

Recommended measures to avoid becoming a victim of disaster fraud:

• Fake charities soliciting donations either using the names of well-known charities or appearing to be related to the disaster.
• Scammers impersonating government officials, offering disaster relief in exchange for personal information or money.
• Individuals posing as insurance provider representatives to collect payments or personal information.
• Fraudsters promising expedient home repairs requiring upfront or partial payment.
• Price-gouging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster.

Take these measures to protect yourself from disaster fraud:

• Donate only to well-known charities after verifying them through trusted sources.
• Do not respond to unsolicited requests for donations via email, phone, or text, and do not click on links in unsolicited messages.
• Do not assume that online or social media charity solicitations are legitimate.
• Use credit cards or checks for donations. Don't send cash or use wire transfers or mobile payment apps.
• Remember that government agencies and legitimate organizations will never ask for money or personal information via phone or email.
• Beware of contractors who knock on your door or make unsolicited contact, and/or make promises that sound too good to be true.
• Cautiously rely on recommendations from family and friends.
• Do not be forced into making repair decisions by a high-pressure contractor.

Individuals who have been targeted by fraudsters or been the victim of disaster-related fraud are encouraged to contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.

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