As the death toll from the devastating floods in Central Texas surpasses 100, state and federal officials are warning residents to be on high alert for fraudsters looking to exploit the disaster for personal gain.
The U.S. Attorney General’s Office issued a warning on Monday about a rise in scams following last week’s historic flooding, which claimed dozens of lives, including more than two dozen children at a summer camp in Kerr County. Scammers, officials say, often target people’s charitable instincts or take advantage of the chaos surrounding natural disasters.
“We’re dealing with scammers,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice during a Monday news conference. “Victims’ families are being reached out to, saying that they have their kids, pay me money. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also released a consumer alert, cautioning Texans to be wary of fraud, particularly schemes involving fake contractors offering to repair storm-damaged homes or fraudulent charities seeking donations. “There are no words for how wrong it is that morally bankrupt people are trying to take advantage of Texans by using this tragedy to scam them,” Paxton said. “Anyone engaging in these scams will face the full force of the law.”
According to the FBI, disaster and charity-related fraud tends to spike after high-profile crises. Common red flags include pressure to act quickly, unverified payment requests, suspicious links, and vague organizational details. Texas ranks second in the nation for internet crime complaints and losses, with Texans reporting $1.35 billion in financial losses in 2023 alone.
In situations like this, it’s important to keep an eye on our digital footprint to avoid becoming a target of scammers. There are also a few techniques that can help. The Federance Deposit Insurance Corporation exposes some key points in order to prevent scams:
Also, there are some common scams to watch out for:
Money Mule Scams
Romance Scams
Impostor Scams
Mortgage & Foreclosure Scams
Ransomware (mostly for businesses)
Suspected fraud can be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/disastercomplaintform. Texans can also contact the Attorney General’s consumer complaint line at 800-621-0508.
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