July 17, 2019

FEMA: Avoid Another Disaster…Beware of Fraud

 Scams seem to follow disasters. Don’t let your guard down and suffer another disaster such as identity theft or paying fees for services that are never provided.

Remember, FEMA never charges for services nor does it endorse any commercial business, product or service. All federal employees have an official badge/ID. Ask to see it.

The following are some common post-disaster fraud practices to avoid.

Fraudulent building contractors.
When hiring a contractor, the Missouri Attorney General suggests:

Fake offers of state or federal aid:

Don’t fall for scam artists who promise a disaster grant and ask for cash deposits or advance payments in full.

Recovery officials encourage Missouri residents to watch for and report any suspicious activity.
Missourians can register complaints by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline of the State Attorney General’s Office at 800-392-8222, filing a complaint online at www.ago.mo.gov/app/consumercomplaint or by mail at P.O. Box 899, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

If you are in one of 20 Missouri counties currently designated for federal disaster assistance – Andrew, Atchison, Boone, Buchanan, Carroll, Chariton, Cole, Greene, Holt, Jackson, Jasper, Lafayette, Lincoln, Livingston, Miller, Osage, Pike, Platte, Pulaski and St. Charles – you can register with FEMA.  Here’s how:

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has faced discrimination, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available.

This post was originally published here.