According to the Florida Climate Center at Florida State University, hurricane season is defined to occur
between June 1 and November 30. This year started relatively slow but the recent devastating impact
that Ian has had on Florida’s west coast serves as a reminder of the threat that faces the 21+ million
citizens of this state.
Once the force and impact of hurricanes and other natural disasters recede, thousands of people are
faced with having to deal with millions of dollars in damages to their properties and communities.
Unfortunately, these times when people look toward emotional, mental, and physical healing there are
many fraudsters and scammers reaping thousands from unsuspecting victims of these disasters.
Fraudsters and scammers offer bogus charities, cleanup and repair work, and pretend to be government
officials. Many aren’t even from Florida. Criminals can come from all parts of the U.S. and even have
headquarters outside of the country. Hurricanes aren’t the only disasters they target; tornados,
earthquakes, floods, wildfires, chemical spills, explosions, etc. are all types of weather- and non-
weather-based natural disasters criminals use to prey upon innocent victims.
The Federal Trade Commission warns people to watch out for these fraudsters and scammers and to
report them immediately and advises on how to spot and avoid potential criminal activity:
Charity Scams Asking for Donations
We would all like to think that disasters bring out the best of us. Neighbors and strangers are galvanized
to assist in the aftermath to repair our communities and provide valuable resources to those in need.
Charities from across the country begin to reach out 24/7 using phone calls, texts, emails, and social
media to solicit donations for all types of relief work. Fraudsters and scammers prey on victims who
want to help those affected by natural disasters the most. They set up phony charities and often claim
to be associated with well-known government agencies like FEMA, the Humane Society, the Red Cross,
and others. If a charity solicits you for donations and you suspect there may be fraudulent activity
happening, check with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF).
General In and Out-of-State Contractors
One of the biggest threats to people of all ages trying to get their lives together after a natural disaster
are general contractors, specifically those that come from out-of-state. General contractors arrive
offering their services to repair and rebuild all types of structures, and while many of them may be
legitimate businesses, they may not have the best intentions in mind. Out-of-state contractors are
particularly risky because it’s much more difficult to verify their credentials and often will negotiate
“reasonable” prices for anyone willing to overlook the fact that they are not certified to conduct work in
Florida.
Guarantees for Fast Clean-Up and Debris
Clean-up and debris removal is a big business and criminals looking to take advantage of people in
distress will often quote outrageous prices and require payments upfront. The trade-off they promise is
that they can complete the work within a few days. Fraudsters and scammers often don’t have the skills
and resources needed to complete the work while others don’t intend of following through at all. Don’t pay for services you have not adequately vetted. With any business, check for identification and credentials, and due your due diligence by checking their website, independent reviews, and the Better
Business Bureau.
Asking for Your Personal Information
FEMA is often used as a reason for fraudsters and scammers to call you, email you, and even come to
your door requesting donations. What they will do is ask for personal and financial information; this is a
big red flag. Even if you believe in their legitimacy, you should never give money on the spot. Any
reputable organization such as FEMA or verified subcontractors will be willing to provide the
information and give you the time to do background checks.
Online Solicitation for GoFundMe Causes
In recent years, GoFundMe campaigns have been a great way for private citizens and organizations to
raise funds for a variety of causes. The majority of them are legitimate, but as the crowdfunding
platform becomes more popular, fraudsters and scammers are taking advantage of setting up fake
organizations and community groups to help. Experts recommend you pay close attention to the
purpose and transparency of the campaign. Always ask questions and make sure the money you
contribute goes to the intended beneficiaries.
Since 2016, OurSeniors.Net has been your go-to source for informative and entertaining content
important to senior living Florida. Our senior online magazine and quarterly print magazine reach all
parts of Florida. The print version of our senior magazine is customized for six different regions
throughout the state so that our subscribers receive the relevant local information they need to enrich
their lives. Starting this month we are publishing a bilingual edition of our senior lifestyle magazine for
people living in the Southeast region and we have plans to expand and provide bilingual editions to all
other regions in the future.
