KERRVILLE, Texas— As central Texas begins the long road to recovery following devastating flash floods that have claimed more than 100 lives, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is warning the public and financial institutions to be on alert for fraudsters looking to exploit the disaster for personal gain.
“Millions of people fall victim to scams every year. Natural disasters and severe weather can create opportunities for fraud, occurring at a time when people may be especially vulnerable, or targeting charitable intentions,” the Attorney’s Office noted.
“Scammers are known to carry out a variety of fraud schemes, targeting those in the affected communities. These methods include using phone, text, mail, email, and even going door to door to target residents impacted by damaging storms,” the Attorney’s Office warned.
Anyone who suspects potential fraud is encouraged to report it to the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling 866-720-5721, or www.justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.
RBFCU Responds
Brian Munsterteiger, senior vice president of central operations at Randolph-Brooks FCU, which has branches in affected areas, said they are cautioning residents to be vigilant when making donations, as scammers are actively targeting generous individuals through fake charities, spoofed phone calls and misleading links on social media, KSAT reported.
“Unfortunately, scammers see this as a perfect opportunity to take advantage of people who want to help,” Munsterteiger said. “They prey on emotions and the urgency of the moment.”