Protect Yourself from Fraud and Scams
BRISTOL, Va. – Following a natural disaster, it’s crucial to guard against fraud and identity theft. Criminals may impersonate disaster relief workers to gain access to sensitive personal information or exploit victims. It’s essential to stay informed and take proactive steps to secure your identity.
Protect yourself by taking these precautions:
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Beware of solicitations: Official federal and local disaster workers never solicit or accept money. Be wary of anyone offering financial assistance who then asks for payment.
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Verify communications: Do not provide personal information in response to unsolicited phone calls or emails claiming to be from FEMA or other federal employees. FEMA will only contact you if you have initiated contact or registered for assistance. To verify the legitimacy of any FEMA communication, call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
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Check identification: Always ask to see identification. FEMA personnel will always carry an official identification badge. Do not offer any personal information, including your Social Security number and bank information, unless you are speaking with a verified FEMA representative.
Caption: Graphic highlighting proper FEMA ID badge. -
Be cautious of registration IDs: Be alert if someone asks for your 9-digit registration ID, which you receive when you apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
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Stay informed: Keep up-to-date on the latest information regarding disaster fraud from trusted local news sources.
Home Inspections and Reporting Fraud
After applying for FEMA assistance, a home inspection may be necessary. FEMA inspectors will schedule an appointment before visiting your home. They may verify your identity using the last four digits of your 9-digit registration number but will never ask for the full number. Additionally, FEMA inspectors will not ask for your Social Security number. FEMA does not hire or endorse specific contractors for home repairs or recommend specific contractors. A FEMA inspector’s job is to verify damage.
To report scams, fraud, and identity theft, contact:
- Toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline: 1-866-720-5721
- The Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
When in doubt, report any suspicious behavior to local authorities.
FEMA Assistance Information
Residents of Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and Wythe counties and the city of Galax in Virginia are eligible to apply for FEMA assistance due to Tropical Storm Helene. You can register for FEMA assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov, using the FEMA mobile app, or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
For more information on FEMA’s role and to stay informed, visit the Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response webpage on FEMA.gov.
For more information on Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit vaemergency.gov, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Facebook page, fema.gov/disaster/4831 and facebook.com/FEMA.
FEMA’s Mission
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Follow us on X at x.com/FEMAregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages).
