Post-Disaster Scams: Fallout Fraud from Hurricane Harvey (and Future Catastrophes)

[babylonsister]

Post-Disaster Scams: Fallout Fraud from Hurricane Harvey (and Future Catastrophes)

by Sid Kirchheimer


After devastating parts of Texas with record rainfall in what the National Weather Service described as “beyond anything experienced,” expect a flood of Hurricane Harvey-themed fraud to continue…even after the waters recede.

That’s because of what’s already been experienced after virtually every other major natural disaster: Scams that prey on those whose lives and homes have already been destroyed, as well as good-hearted strangers hoping to help from thousands of miles away. Here’s a timeline of what to expect in the wake of Harvey, as well as future disasters:

Charity scams are typically the first gotcha out of the gate. (Even before Superstorm Sandy made landfall, more than 1,000 new websites with “Sandy,” “relief” or related keyword search terms were registered, many by scammers). Some charity scams come by unsolicited phone calls or front-door visits, but more begin with randomly blasted text messages, emails and social media posts to direct would-be donors to scammer-run websites. There, personal information and credit card numbers are collected for supposed donations (and possible identity theft); some scammer sites also infect your computer with information-stealing malware.

For fraud-free fundraising, you should contact the charity directly. Don’t trust requests that come to you. Stick with names and reputations vetted at Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, and Give.org, and follow these tips to avoid post-disaster charity scams. To immediately help Harvey victims, call the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS, visit redcross.org or text the word HARVEY to 90999. For Salvation Army donations, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY, visit http://helpsalvationarmy.org or text STORM to 51555.

Rip-off repairmen known as “storm chasers” will flock to Texas as soon as the rain stops to begin their kind of soaking. These out-of-town tradesmen present themselves as roofers, carpenters, electricians and other tradesmen, and promise a quick repair for an upfront payment. Some just take the money and run; others may do “quick” but shoddy or incomplete work that may not be covered by homeowners insurance.

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http://blog.aarp.org/2017/08/29/post-disaster-scams-fallout-fraud-from-hurricane-harvey-and-future-catastrophes/?cmp=SNO-ADV-FB-AO-FWN&socialid=1053894342

[Phoenix61]

1. Not to mention used cars

coming out of there where they conveniently forget to tell you it got flooded.