As Hurricane Milton makes its way through the Gulf Coast, it’s important to stay alert to scams that arise in the wake of natural disasters. During disasters like this, scammers often take advantage of the chaos, targeting individuals seeking help and support.
Common Scams to Watch for
Fraudulent emails and social media messages—often containing malicious links or attachments—are common after major natural disasters. Everyone should be on the lookout for potential scams when handling emails with hurricane-related subject lines, attachments, or hyperlinks.
Be wary of any type of outreach offering or seeking financial support, including social media, texts, or door-to-door solicitations. These scams may seek to gain access to bank accounts, email credentials or other sensitive information. Trusted sources for hurricane or other disaster-related guidance includes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and DHS’s Ready.gov.
More resources to help avoid these types of attacks include:
- Federal Trade Commission’s Staying Alert to Disaster-related Scams and Before Giving to a Charity,
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Frauds and Scams,
- FEMA’s Disaster Fraud guidance, and
- CISA’s Phishing Guidance, Stopping the Attack Cycle at Phase One to help organizations reduce likelihood and impact of successful phishing attacks.
If you have questions or need assistance navigating these resources, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information and support.
