In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida is urging the public to remain vigilant against disaster-related fraud. The reminder comes as scammers often exploit the chaos and vulnerability following hurricanes and other catastrophic events.
“Hurricane season is prime time for fraudsters,” said Lapointe. “They will take advantage of the devastation caused by events like Hurricane Helene, targeting both storm victims and those wanting to help. We encourage everyone to report any suspected disaster fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) via its hotline at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.”
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26 in Florida’s Big Bend region, caused widespread damage across multiple states, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. As seen in previous disasters, scammers use deceptive tactics such as fake charities, identity theft schemes, and fraudulent solicitations to steal from well-meaning citizens.
Lapointe emphasized the importance of being cautious when donating to relief efforts, warning the public to be mindful of solicitations that come via phone calls, social media, email, or even door-to-door approaches. He urged potential donors to follow key safety guidelines, including:
- Donating directly to known, reputable charities.
- Avoiding pressure to donate immediately, as legitimate organizations do not use aggressive tactics.
- Steering clear of unsolicited emails or texts, and not clicking on links in such messages.
- Verifying the legitimacy of charities through independent resources, and avoiding organizations with names similar to established charities.
- Using credit cards or checks for donations instead of cash.
- Being cautious of charities requesting donations via money transfer services.
- Ensuring charity websites end in “.org” rather than “.com.”
Lapointe also warned against opening unsolicited email attachments, which could contain viruses, and emphasized that legitimate charities rarely send photos of disaster areas via email.
The NCDF, established in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, works to combat disaster-related fraud. It partners with more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute these crimes. Suspected fraud can be reported via the NCDF’s 24/7 hotline or online complaint form.
