EDITORIAL: An eye out for scammers

Jun. 22--Natural disasters that bring floodwaters create all kinds of problems. From water damage to homes, to people losing vehicles drowned by water, there are many aspects of fallout that occur from natural disasters.

One thing people should keep on the lookout for is the possibility of a scam artist trying to take advantage of people who have experienced problems due to things such as floodwaters. According to a story from the Muskogee Phoenix, the Federal Trade Commission says that times following natural disasters, various scams can occur as hucksters try to take advantage of people at their most vulnerable.

Some people might receive robocalls about flood insurance, and the FCC recommends trying to verify the legitimacy of the call before providing any personal information or payment.

The Department of Homeland Security reported an increase in identity theft in 2018 during post-disaster situations. When people receive a phone call claiming to be from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, it is recommended that if people are unsure about who is calling, they should call the FEMA help line directly.

Attorney General Mike Hunter's website offers advice a few situations that may be the result of scamming following a disaster:

--Unsolicited contact from contractors -- be especially suspicious of door-to-door solicitations.

--Contractors who have no local address and arrived to the area following a disaster.

--Contractors who offer steep discounts because they have excess material left over from a previous job.

--Contractors who require substantial payments in advance of performing any work.

--Contractors who require cash payment also should raise suspicions.

Natural disasters can bring out the best in people, with ordinary citizens going out of their way to help somebody in need. But it also brings the potential for scammers to potentially try to target vulnerable individuals. Keep an eye out for what might be a potential scam, as it could happen to anyone.

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