Hurricane Milton strikes Florida, officials warn of hurricane relief scams

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida Wednesday night, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene roughly two weeks prior, which resulted in over 200 deaths and extensive property damage. As relief efforts continue, the United States Department of Justice is alerting the public to a rise in scams aimed at exploiting victims of these disasters.

Milton started its destruction in California Wednesday, Oct. 9 as a Category 3 storm but has since weakened to a Category 1 as it travels across Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of Thursday morning, the storm has cut off power to more than 3 million people, spawned a number of tornadoes and killed four people.

According to the Justice Department, scammers are quick to exploit weather disasters and the people affected by them.

The Justice Department, including the NCDF, stands ready to prevent these bad actors from fraudulent activity. We are here to support victims of natural disasters during these difficult times together with our state, local and federal partners, and agencies. In an effort to assist the most vulnerable neighbors who are susceptible to these types of fraudulent schemes, we encourage you to be diligent in reporting suspicious activity on their behalf.

U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr. for the Middle District of Louisiana, Executive Director of the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF)

According to the department, the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, scammers will often use the following kinds of scams to take advantage:

• Fraudulent charities soliciting donations for disaster victims that often imitate the names of charities linked to the disaster.
• Scammers impersonating government officials, offering disaster relief in exchange for personal information or money.
• Scammers promoting non-existent businesses or investment opportunities related to disaster recovery, such as rebuilding or flood-proofing.
• Price gouging for essential goods and services needed by disaster victims.
• Businesses using supply chain disruptions as a cover for collusion to overcharge customers.

The department encourages people to exercise caution before giving money or personal information to someone on the phone, and reminds people of the following:

• Only scammers will insist that you pay for services by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or in cash.
• If they promise to help you qualify for relief for a fee, it is a scam.
• You should never sign your insurance check over to someone else.
• Make sure you research contractors and get estimates from more than one before signing a work contract.
• Get a written contract for repairs and read it carefully before signing.

Jonathan McNamara with the American Red Cross emphasized to 8News that the organization will never request money or personal information through phone calls.

As Florida grapples with the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, officials urge residents to stay informed and cautious, ensuring that their donations reach legitimate organizations working to aid those in need.

If you do get a scam call like this, you can report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud by completing a Disaster Complaint Form or by calling 866-720-5721, which is a hotline staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.