After Hurricane Irma: Task force wants tips on storm-related scams

Sept. 21--A task force created by the U.S. Attorneys' offices in Florida and Puerto Rico and the National Center for Disaster Fraud has launched a 24-hour tip line to report storm-related fraud and scams.

Among more than 400 storm-related crimes already reported after hurricanes Harvey and Irma: impersonating law enforcement officials; identity theft; filing fraudulent insurance claims; bogus charities and investments that promise high returns on recovery and clean-up efforts; price gouging, theft and looting.

The U.S. Department of Justice created the National Center for Disaster Fraud after millions of federal dollars for disaster relief poured into Louisiana and other gulf coast states after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

More than 30 state and federal agencies collaborate with the Center and the U.S. Attorneys' office to investigate disaster-related crimes.

"Unfortunately, criminals can exploit disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating phony websites designed to solicit contributions," said the center's Acting Executive Director Corey R. Amundson.

The center routes complaints to local authorities and works with U.S. Attorneys' offices to prosecute disaster-related crimes, Amundson said. Besides fraud and scams that target storm victims, the task force is also asking for information about individuals who exploit state and federal assistance programs by filing false claims.

Tips can be reported on the toll-free hotline at (866) 720-5721, faxed to (225) 334-4707 or emailed to disaster@leo.gov.

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