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The Best and Worst of Us.
Harvey Scams and Disaster Fraud
I hate to say it but as giving as the American people, and people in general are. There are those who will lie, cheat and steal what they can to benefit themselves.
Now is the time to Steele yourself from the Scams and Frauds that are rearing their ugly heads.
This wave of disaster frauds and scams is not an uncommon event. We can look back at past disasters and review the depth of fraud committed then. To see the trends of fraud and scams now.
The first article notes a historical reference of disaster fraud and scams. In the second article you be acquainted with the current wave of fraud and scams with a Harvey theme.
The following information is intended to enlighten you with the tools and resources available to combat fraud/scams and protect yourself from this particular risk.
More Than 600 Accused of Hurricane Katrina Fraud
Published April 02, 2007 Associated Press
An Illinois woman mourns her two young daughters, swept to their deaths in Hurricane Katrina’s floodwaters. It’s a tragic and terrifying story. It’s also a lie.
An Alabama woman applies for disaster aid for hurricane damage. She files 28 claims for addresses in four states. It’s all a sham.
Two California men help stage Internet auctions designed to help Katrina relief organizations. Those, too, are bogus.
More than 18 months after Hurricane Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast, authorities are chipping away at a mountain of fraud cases that, by some estimates, involve thousands of people who bilked the federal government and charities out of hundreds of millions of dollars intended to aid storm victims.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/04/02/more-than-600-accused-hurricane-katrina-fraud.html
Harvey scams abound, targeting victims and generous Americans
By Andrew O’Reilly Published August 31, 2017 Fox News
Harvey’s floodwaters are beginning to recede in Houston and the devastating storm is finally loosening its grip on the Gulf Coast, but many dangers and hardships still loom for drenched residents in Texas and Louisiana.
Thousands still remain in shelters across the region, awaiting news of when they can return to their devastated homes and neighborhoods. A series of explosions at a chemical plant and the threat of toxic waste and crude oil seeping into floodwaters have sparked health concerns. State and federal officials are working overtime to get airports, railways and highways up and running at pre-Harvey levels.
And then there are the scams.
Targeting both Harvey victims and those looking to donate to relief efforts, scam artists are using the storm – and people’s sense of charity – to swindle thousands of dollars from unwitting targets. Fox News has compiled a list of some of the more popular scams and how to avoid them:
Don’t get duped: How to avoid post-Harvey charity scams
by Nathaniel Meyersohn @CNNMoney
People all over the country are donating to Harvey disaster relief efforts, but law enforcement officials and consumer watchdogs urge caution: Beware of phony charities.
Scam artists use a host of tactics–bogus websites, emails, social media accounts and fake crowdfunding campaigns–to capitalize on Americans’ generosity after major crises.
The Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), which was established to crack down on scams following Hurricane Katrina, released a statement on Wednesday warning of post-Harvey charity fraud.
“Unfortunately, criminals can exploit disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey, for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating phony websites designed to solicit contributions,” the statement said. Attorneys General in Colorado, Ohio and Arizona have also sent similar warnings.
“There’s a cycle for disaster fraud,” explained Walt Green, who ran the NCDF from 2013 to 2017.
Every spring, when the National Weather Service announces potential names for the upcoming hurricane season, scammers race to create deceptive websites and accounts soliciting donations using variations of those storm names.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/30/news/harvey-charity-fraud/index.html
Disaster Fraud: Criminals Capitalizing on Catastrophes
October 13, 2015 | By Brooke Satti Charles
Disaster fraud is a deliberate act to deceive people, government organizations or private industries after devastating events for personal financial gain. According to Fraud Magazine, this type of fraud can be divided into five primary categories: charitable solicitation, contractor and vendor fraud, price gouging, property insurance fraud and forgery.
- Charitable solicitation fraud is the act of soliciting funds by posing as a legitimate charitable organization.
- Contractor and vendor fraud is the act of posing as a legitimate vendor, worker or repairman to collect payment but never complete the tasks in question.
- Price gouging is the act of increasing the cost of goods and services in a disaster zone.
- Property insurance fraud is the act of reporting fraudulent claims or inflated claims to collect insurance premiums.
- Forgery is the act of pretending to be someone you are not for financial gain (i.e., signing and cashing stolen or fraudulently acquired checks).
https://securityintelligence.com/disaster-fraud-criminals-capitalizing-on-catastrophes/
Tips on Avoiding Fraudulent Charitable Contribution Schemes
The National Center for Disaster Fraud reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Unfortunately, criminals can exploit disasters, such as Hurricane Harvey, for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating phony websites designed to solicit contributions.
Tips should be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721. The line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, e-mails can be sent to disaster@leo.gov (link sends e-mail), and information can be faxed to (225) 334-4707.
The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud to investigate, prosecute, and deter fraud in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region. Its mission has expanded to include suspected fraud from any natural or manmade disaster. More than 30 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the National Center for Disaster Fraud, which allows the center to act as a centralized clearinghouse of information related to disaster relief fraud.
The public should remember to perform due diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to provide assistance to those affected by the hurricane and tornadoes. Solicitations can originate from social media, e-mails, websites, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, telephone calls, and other similar methods.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tips-avoiding-fraudulent-charitable-contribution-schemes
Disaster Fraud Task Force (DFTF)
Welcome to the Disaster Fraud Task Force homepage. On September 8, 2005, the Disaster Fraud Task Force was established to deter, detect, and prosecute instances of fraud related to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. As multiple disasters occurred in subsequent years, the Task Force expanded its mandate to all types of disaster fraud.
https://www.justice.gov/criminal-disasters
FEMA Advises Disaster Applicants to Beware of Rumors, Misinformation, and Fraud
WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is raising awareness that Hurricane Harvey disaster survivors, and their friends and family, must be alert for false rumors, scams, identity theft, and fraud. Although many Americans are working hard to help their neighbors now, during chaotic times, some will always try to take advantage of the most vulnerable.
To dispel some of the false rumors circulating on the internet and social media, FEMA created a dedicated website to address some of the most common themes. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Visit https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey-rumor-control to get the most accurate information from trusted sources.
Take care to protect yourself from Frauds and Scams.
Till Next Time
“Be Safe”