Florida officials put out warning over scammers impersonating FEMA agents

Oct 18

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

As thousands of people look to rebuild their lives after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Florida officials are putting out a warning about scammers impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials. Sarasota County’s emergency management chief announced on Thursday, Oct. 17, that imposters with fake FEMA badges were asking residents for their bank account information.

The agency advises individuals to never give out their bank account information nor give cash to anyone claiming to be a FEMA agent.

FEMA also notes that natural disaster survivors should be aware of online scammers. The agency advised people to avoid sharing personal or financial information online, as well as following links promising offers for FEMA disaster assistance.

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FEMA maintains it does not “endorse any commercial business, products or services.”

If a person has any concerns about potential scams, the agency advises people to call local law enforcement or report any suspicious or fraudulent activity to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s website.

Insurance analysts estimate recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton could soar past $100 billion.

Tags: consumer scams, FEMA, Florida, Fraud, Home insurance, hurricane, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Milton, Insurance, insurance premium, natural disaster, scams

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AS THOUSANDS LOOK TO REBUILD AFTER HURRICANES HELENE AND MILTON, FLORIDA OFFICIALS ARE PUTTING OUT A WARNING ABOUT SCAMMERS IMPERSONATING FEMA AGENTS.

SARASOTA COUNTY’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CHIEF ANNOUNCED THURSDAY IMPOSTERS WITH FAKE FEMA BADGES ARE ASKING RESIDENTS FOR THEIR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION.

[SANDRA TAPFUMANEYI]

WE HAVE BEEN GETTING SOME REPORTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING AROUND WITH FAKE FEMA BADGES AND THEY ARE SCAMMING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO, WE WANT YOU TO BE VERY DILIGENT. FEMA WILL NEVER ASK YOU FOR YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO WIRE YOU MONEY.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE AGENCY SAYS NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION TO SOMEONE KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR AND DON’T GIVE CASH TO ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY ARE FROM FEMA.

FEMA ALSO NOTES NATURAL DISASTER SURVIVORS SHOULD BE AWARE OF ONLINE SCAMMERS.

IT ADVISED PEOPLE TO AVOID SHARING PERSONAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION ONLINE OR FOLLOWING LINKS PROMISING OFFERS FOR FEMA DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

FEMA SAYS IT DOESN’T “ENDORSE ANY COMMERCIAL BUSINESS, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.”

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL SCAMS, THEY TELL PEOPLE TO CALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR REPORT IT BY VISITING THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISASTER FRAUD’S WEBSITE.

INSURANCE ANALYSTS ESTIMATE RECOVERY FROM HURRICANES HELENE AND MILTON COULD SOAR PAST 100 BILLION DOLLARS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.