After a disaster, scam artists, identity thieves, and other criminals often attempt to take advantage of disaster survivors. Federal and local law enforcement encourages survivors to watch for and report any suspicious activity.
Beware of Fraud and Scams
Protect your identity and stay informed by doing these easy things:
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and other federal agencies WILL NEVER CHARGE YOU for disaster assistance
- Verify everything you hear or read if it is not from an official government agency or the American Red Cross
- Always ask to see Identification (ID) – FEMA personnel will always have an official identification badge
- Do not offer any personal information unless you have confirmed you are speaking with a verified government or FEMA representative
- Stay tuned to trusted local media for updates from your local officials on disaster fraud and scams
- Check with local law enforcement to ensure your identity is protected
Report Fraud or Scams
Contact the FEMA Investigations and Inspections Division
Email:
[email protected]
Phone: 866-223-0814
Fax: 202-212-4926
Mail:
400 C Street SW
Suite 7SW-1009
Mail Stop 3005
Washington D.C., 20472-3005
Contact Your State Consumer Protection Offices
- Report corruption, fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or misconduct to the DHS Office of the Inspector General
- File a complaint with the National Center for Disaster Fraud
- Visit IdentityTheft.gov to report and recover from identity theft
Common Disaster Fraud FAQ
A FEMA inspector came to my home, but I didn’t apply for FEMA assistance. What should I do?
- Let the inspector know you did not apply for assistance. If the inspector has left, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 to tell them that you did not apply. FEMA will stop all further processing for the application.
- If you use a relay service, such as your videophone, Innocaption, or CapTel, please provide the specific number assigned to you for that service. FEMA must be able to contact you, and you should be aware that phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number. Operators can also assist you if you wish to create a new application to apply for FEMA assistance.
- A fraudulent FEMA application could be a sign of identity theft. For information on responding to identity theft, visit Identity Theft | FTC Consumer Information and IdentityTheft.gov. Do not contact the FEMA Fraud Investigations and Inspections Division, DHS Office of Inspector General, or the National Center for Disaster Fraud to report identity theft.