Criminals Exploit Disaster Relief, Louisiana 2024

NEW ORLEANS – With the aftermath of Hurricane Ida wreaking havoc on communities from Southeast Louisiana, through the Tennessee River Valley, and ultimately reaching those along the Eastern Seaboard, scammers are poised to strike helpless victims at their most vulnerable and desperate. The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), established in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, is tasked with facilitating the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of disasters-related fraud.

The NCDF, a national coordinating agency, operates a call center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge to process disaster fraud complaints, provide relevant information, and advocate for victims of such fraud. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, enabling efficient complaint referrals to the appropriate agency.

Examples of criminality reported to the NCDF and law enforcement include impersonation of federal law enforcement officials, identity theft, fraudulent submission of claims to insurance companies and the federal government, and other forms of exploitation.

Locally, Hurricane Ida caused severe damage to communities, and with the inevitable occurrence of natural and man-made disasters, members of the public must be wary and verify the legitimacy of anyone claiming to work on behalf of disaster victims.

Exercise caution before providing personal identifying or financial information to anyone, in the wake of a disaster. Solicitations can originate from e-mails, websites, door-to-door collections, mailings, and telephone calls, and similar methods.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans reminds the public to be aware of fraud when disaster strikes and report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud. If you suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, or believe you have been the victim of fraud from any source soliciting relief funds on behalf of disaster victims, please contact the National Disaster Fraud Hotline toll-free at (866) 720-5721. Complaints may also be filed online at http://www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.

Learn more about the NCDF at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud. Tips for the public on how to avoid being victimized of fraud are at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/tips-avoiding-fraudulent-charitable-contribution-schemes.

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