{"id":835,"date":"2026-08-05T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thirstier.news\/?p=835"},"modified":"2026-08-05T13:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T13:30:00","slug":"standing-strong-after-the-storm-natural-disasters-fraud-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=835","title":{"rendered":"Standing strong after the storm: Natural disasters fraud prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Communities face enormous challenges after a natural disaster. Scammers often target Veterans and their families when they\u2019re most overwhelmed. They may pose as insurance adjusters, contractors, landlords or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives to steal your money, personal information or insurance benefits.<\/p>\n

Help protect yourself and your family from scammers<\/h2>\n

If you are contacted by someone alleging to be an insurance adjuster or another entity requesting your personal financial information, always request official identification and verify licensing with your state insurance or licensing board. Legitimate adjusters and contractors will not ask for cash, wire transfers or gift cards. Avoid signing contracts or forms before speaking directly with your insurer and be cautious of anyone who arrives without an appointment. FEMA and government workers may request some information to verify your identity and eligibility, but they will never ask for unnecessary financial details or payment to process your claim.<\/p>\n

Price gouging during disaster recovery<\/h2>\n

Price gouging\u2014raising prices for essential goods or services during an emergency\u2014is illegal in most states once an emergency is declared. It commonly affects food, water, fuel, medical supplies, temporary shelter and emergency repairs. Price gouging often begins even before a storm hits. Report<\/a> any prices more than 10 percent above pre\u2011emergency levels, or new items marked up more than 50 percent above cost. Provide as much detail as possible\u2014names, addresses, screenshots, receipts, photos and a description of the suspicious behavior. Through reporting, investigators respond quickly and prevent further harm to affected communities.<\/p>\n

Rental and housing scams after disasters<\/h2>\n

Displaced residents who urgently need housing are often targeted by scammers with fake rental listings or demands for upfront payments. Be wary of listings with unusually low prices, unavailable landlords or requests for money before viewing the property. Always verify the address, avoid high\u2011pressure tactics to \u201cact now,\u201d and never use wire transfers, cryptocurrency or gift cards for payments.<\/p>\n

How to report disaster\u2011related scams<\/h2>\n

If you encounter fraudulent adjusters, FEMA impersonators, price gouging or rental scams, report them quickly to help protect others.<\/p>\n