Be wary of flood repair scams
As
The Center is located at the
Residents will receive information about
The following examples, provided by the Indiana DHS, are common post-disaster fraud practices.
n Fraudulent phone calls or home visits: Individuals falsely claiming to be from
The Disaster Survivor Assistance Team based in
If someone else knocks at your door and claims to be from
n Survivors will be asked to provide their
If in doubt, survivors should not give out any information.
n Fake offers of federal aid: A phone or in-person solicitor promises to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance or building-permit process for a fee. Other scam artists promise a disaster grant and ask for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.
Federal workers do not solicit or accept money.
n Fraudulent building contractors: Disasters also attract fraudulent contractors who offer to begin work immediately and request a cash advance payment. When hiring a contractor residents should only use licensed local contractors who are backed by reliable references and get written estimates from at least three contractors that include the cost of labor and materials.
Residents should insist that contractors carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation. If they aren't insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
Don't pay more than half the costs of repairs upfront.
n Dishonest pleas for post-disaster donations: Dishonest solicitors may play on the emotions of disaster survivors. These solicitations may come by phone, email, letter or face-to-face.
Verify legitimate solicitations by asking for the charity's exact name, street address, phone number and website address, then phone the charity directly and confirm that the person asking for funds is an employee or volunteer. Do not pay donations with cash and always request a receipt with the charity's name, street address, and phone number.
If you suspect someone is perpetrating fraud, call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or your local police department.
If you are a resident that has been impacted, but will not be able to go to the center in person, you can also call
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