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The FBI stands united with our Texas Hill Country communities and those who have been impacted by the devastating floods of July 4. We urge the public to be aware of and vigilantly guard against fraud schemes that commonly emerge in the wake of major disasters.
Unfortunately, after major catastrophic events it is common for scammers to seek opportunities to take advantage of the charitable public who generously contribute to recovery efforts. Fraudsters capitalize on the goodness of regular Americans by posing as charities or humanitarian aid organizations where fraudulent donations can be solicited in person, online, or via cryptocurrency.
In 2024, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 4,500 complaints representing approximately $96 million in losses from fraudulent charities and disaster relief campaigns.
“Tragically, natural disasters often create ideal situations for opportunistic criminals to prey on those experiencing profound loss or those offering assistance to others,” said FBI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp. “Scammers who view this heartbreaking disaster as an illicit financial opportunity will be identified and held accountable. They should know that the FBI and our partners will use every tool at our disposal to stop them or anyone else who seeks to use this disaster for personal gain.”
“In the wake of tragedies like the one residents and visitors to the Texas Hill Country recently experienced, the worst elements of our society often look to take advantage of those who have lost everything,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “If you or someone you know is a victim of fraud related to the recent flooding, do not hesitate to report it to the FBI. Here in the Western District, we will do everything we can to hold to account those who would take advantage of a person’s loss and heartache.”
We remind the public that some criminals claim to be representatives of the government or wellknown nonprofits (such as the American Red Cross), and they solicit donations through emails, texts, or phone calls. Officials with government disaster agencies never call or text to ask for financial information, and there is no fee to apply for assistance. To learn more about legitimate flood resources available those effected by disaster, visit the Texas Disaster Portal at disaster. texas.gov.
Sometimes, scammers offer to help victims secure government-provided temporary housing if the resident pays a small fee to reserve a space or as a security deposit on a key. Other scams include unsolicited work crews who show up unannounced offering to do quick repair work. Contact your insurance company before hiring anyone, and make sure the company you hire is licensed and bonded.
• Do your own research before you donate. Best practices include, but are not limited to:
• Donate to charities you know and trust.
• Designate the donation for a specific disaster relief effort as opposed to a general fund.
• Practice good cyber hygiene. Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails, texts, or social media posts. To protect against common scam tactics such as Smishing, Vishing, and Spear Phishing, see - ic3. gov- PSA
• Verify the legitimacy of any solicitation by contacting the organization directly through a trusted contact number.
• Beware of organizations with names that are similar to, but not exactly the same as, those of reputable charities.
• Avoid charities that ask for you to pay by cash, gift card, virtual currency, or wire transfer.
• Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity; do not make checks payable to individuals.
• Know that most legitimate charity websites end in “.org” rather than “.com.”
• Make contributions directly; do not rely on others to make a contribution on your behalf.
• Utilize resources provided by the Federal Trade Commission to learn how you can donate safely and avoid scams.
Report It
If you believe you have been a victim of disaster- related fraud, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI and follow the prompts. You can also make a complaint at tips. fbi.gov. Suspicious email solicitations and fraudulent websites can be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at http://www.ic3.gov.
You can also submit complaints of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement related to any man-made or natural disaster to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at 1-866-720-5721 or www. justice. gov/disastercomplaintform.
