Wisconsin Emergency Management WEM, DATCP warn people to be vigilant for scammers amid Individual Assistance process

MADISON, Wis – Disasters can create a perfect storm for scammers to take advantage of survivors when they are most vulnerable. These bad actors can delay recovery, cause financial loss, and create mistrust in legitimate efforts to provide aid. As recovery efforts continue after August’s storms and flooding, Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) are urging people to be vigilant and practice caution when giving out personal information or selecting a contractor.

“Flood survivors are navigating some of the hardest days of their lives, and unfortunately, that’s when fraudsters tend to strike,” said WEM Administrator Greg Engle. “We want people to know that help is available, but it should not come at the cost of their personal security or peace of mind.”

If your home or personal property was damaged during the August storms and floods, be careful when giving out your information. It is important to remember the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other federal and state disaster workers will never ask for money or require payment in any form.

“Scammers find ways to exploit a crisis, and people recovering from disasters need to have the knowledge and resources to protect themselves,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “Consumers in affected communities can combat fraud by raising awareness of scams and identity theft as well as by recommending trustworthy businesses and resources to their neighbors.”

Identity thieves want to take control of your personal information to impersonate you, steal your money, and commit fraudulent actions in your name. To steal your identity, they make phone calls or send text and email messages while pretending to represent a government agency, financial institution, business, or charity that wants to help you recover. The imposter will ask you to “confirm” or “verify” your information, fill out fake paperwork, or provide your financial details so you can make a payment or receive a direct deposit of financial aid. These are all lies.

To avoid identity theft, do not provide personal information like your name, date of birth, address, financial account details, or Social Security number to anyone who unexpectedly contacts you. If you are contacted by an organization that seems legitimate, find their official contact information online and reach out to confirm if it was really them. If any documents containing your sensitive information were lost during or after the flooding, be vigilant of unauthorized activity on your accounts or any new accounts being opened in your name by someone else. To catch identity theft early, check your credit report regularly. Also consider placing a security freeze with all of the three major credit reporting agencies, which will prevent a thief from taking out a new loan or credit card in your name.

Consumers whose homes were damaged by flooding likely have other concerns in addition to identity theft. If you are seeking a home repair contractor, avoid door-to-door solicitors who may not have the required permits to perform work in your area. These transient repair crews have been known to perform poor quality work or steal from homeowners in areas recently damaged by storms or flooding.

Instead, get multiple estimates from established contractor businesses and make sure all potential contractors examine the property in-person so they are bidding on the exact same work. Be cautious of unusually low estimates. Ask contractors for the contact information of their recent customers and reach out to ask if they were satisfied with the work. Do not rely on verbal agreements – always get a contract in writing and do not sign until you have read and fully understand it. Keep copies of all contracts and written correspondence for your records. Finally, request a lien waiver every time you make a payment.

Consumers should contact DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline by calling 800-422-7128 or emailing DATCPhotline@wisconsin.gov if they are a victim of identity theft, to check if other consumers have filed complaints against a business, or if they have other questions about consumer issues.

Fraudulent FEMA Inspectors and Applications

FEMA crews, housing inspectors and other officials will be working in areas affected by the August storms and flooding. Be careful of unexpected phone calls or visits to your home from people claiming they work for FEMA. You can ask to see their official identification badge, which real FEMA personnel always have on their person. If you are unsure whether a visit or call is legitimate, contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to verify.

If a FEMA inspector comes to your home and you did not submit a FEMA application, your information may have been used without your knowledge to create a FEMA application. If this happens, inform the inspector that you did not apply for FEMA assistance so they can submit a request to stop further processing of the application.

If you did not apply for assistance but receive a letter from FEMA, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. The Helpline will submit a request to stop any further processing of that application.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.