CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General Moody Issues Tips to Avoid FEMA Scams in the Aftermath of Helene and Milton

Skip to main content Home Meet the Attorney General Attorney General James Uthmeier Official Photo About the Office Departments AG Opinions Antitrust Civil Legal Services Civil Litigation Consumer Protection Criminal Appeals Litigation Services Medicaid Fraud Parental Rights Solicitor General Statewide Prosecution Programs Back the Blue Be a Florida Hero Consumer Alerts Criminal Justice Programs Military and Veterans Assistance Program Seniors vs. Crime Cold Case Investigations Unit Services Civil Rights Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Identity Theft Lemon Law Office of Inspector General Open Government Victims Services Contact Us Addresses & Phone Numbers File A Complaint General Inquiries Media Contact × Home Meet the Attorney General Attorney General James Uthmeier Official Photo About the Office Departments AG Opinions Antitrust Civil Legal Services Civil Litigation Consumer Protection Criminal Appeals Litigation Services Medicaid Fraud Parental Rights Solicitor General Statewide Prosecution Programs Back the Blue Be a Florida Hero Consumer Alerts Criminal Justice Programs Military and Veterans Assistance Program Seniors vs. Crime Cold Case Investigations Unit Services Civil Rights Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Identity Theft Lemon Law Office of Inspector General Open Government Victims Services Contact Us Addresses & Phone Numbers File A Complaint General Inquiries Media Contact Breadcrumb Home News Releases Consumer Alert Attorney General Moody Issues Tips Avoid Fema Scams Aftermath Helene and Skip to main content CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General Moody Issues Tips to Avoid FEMA Scams in the Aftermath of Helene and Milton View PDF Release Date Oct 16, 2024 Contact Kylie Mason Phone (850) 245-0150 TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody is sharing tips with Floridians to avoid potential Federal Emergency Management Agency scams in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Following natural disasters, fraudsters may pose as FEMA representatives and ask for sensitive information or request money in exchange for services. Scammers may also use a target’s personal information to apply for a FEMA grant and try to keep the money for themselves. Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Imposter scammers may pose as FEMA representatives and try to gain access to storm victims’ personal information and federal assistance. Floridians need to be on the lookout for FEMA scams and report suspicious activity immediately.” There are at least two different ways FEMA fraudsters attempt to scam Floridians. One of the schemes consists of scammers posing as FEMA representatives and approaching a victim’s home. The imposter may claim to be a housing inspector or other official and attempt to charge the victim for disaster assistance, inspections or help filling out an application. They also may request sensitive financial information. In another scheme, fraudsters already have access to the victim’s information. The scammers then apply for a FEMA grant themselves to keep the money. To avoid falling victim to a FEMA scam, Attorney General Moody is offering the following tips: Understand that FEMA will never charge applicants for disaster assistance or help fill out applications; Know that a FEMA representative will not ask for banking information or an individual’s nine-digit registration number; If no application for FEMA assistance is being made but a solicitor claiming to be a FEMA representative offers help with an application, the solicitor is probably a scammer; and Ask solicitors to show identification—FEMA representatives always wear an official government badge to identify themselves. Report fraud to the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1(866) 720-5721, or email StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov. For more information on scams following hurricanes, visit Scams at a Glance: After the Storm. For the Spanish version, click here. # # # The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division issues Consumer Alerts to inform Floridians of emerging scams, new methods used to commit fraud, increased reports of common scams, or any other deceptive practice. Consumer Alerts are designed to notify Floridians about scams and available refunds in an effort to prevent financial losses or other harm caused by deceptive practices. Anyone encountering a scam should report the incident to the Florida Attorney General's Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com. To view recent Consumer Alerts and for other information about avoiding scams, visit MyFloridaLegal.com/ConsumerAlert. Email Kylie.Mason@MyFloridaLegal.com Resources AG Opinions Annual Regulatory Plan Consumer Protection Doing Business with the Office FAQ Florida Digital Bill of Rights Annual Enforcement Report Opioid Settlements Statement of Agency Organization and Operation Quick Links Consumer Alerts Military and Veterans Assistance Program Open Government Dose of Reality Florida Crime Prevention Summit Programs Emp