Natural disasters will unleash scammers following headlines in pursuit of their next victims and sadly Hurricane Ian is no exception. According to the FCC after any major disaster strikes, scammers impersonate government agencies, calling with offers to help you apply for FEMA assistance or conduct an inspection for a fee.

Scam contractors will show up at doors in affected communities, offering to do post-disaster repairs on the spot, but only if you prepay.

Scammers seek donations on the internet and in person for disaster relief, but what they raise they keep for themselves.

What You Should Know:

• No government agency will charge a fee to help you get assistance.
• Legitimate contractors will not require an on-the-spot payment.
• Scam charity names are often very similar to real charities.
• Hang up on callers claiming to be from the government; generally it doesn’t work that way. If you get such a call, verify the phone number and Google search it for info.
• Get written estimates and check references before hiring. If the contractor’s offer is for that day or moment only, walk away.
• Research charities before donating using sites like Charity Navigator, Give.org, Charity Watch, Guide Star, and NASCONET