Communities across the Arklatex are coming together to help those affected by the recent tornadoes caused by Beryl. However, FEMA warns that scammers may take advantage of the situation.
“Disaster survivors are often vulnerable and trusting, which can lead to scams,” says Nikki Gaskins Campbell, a FEMA media relations specialist. She advises asking for a badge if someone claiming to be from FEMA comes to your door. “Just because someone has a FEMA shirt doesn’t mean they’re a FEMA employee,” Campbell explains.
Scammers may target homes for theft, seek personal information, or ask for money in exchange for assistance. “FEMA will never ask for money,” Campbell emphasizes. She advises reporting any suspicious activity.
FEMA teams in the field inform homeowners about how to get assistance. If you receive a letter or call from FEMA without having contacted them first, it could be a sign of compromised information. In such cases, contact FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.
FEMA encourages those in need to seek help by calling 1-800-621-3362 or visiting disasterassistance.gov.
