Hurricane Ian is among one of the costliest storms in US history, causing over $50 billion in damages and leaving hundreds of people without their homes.
Less than a week after Hurricane Ian chewed up Florida’s coast and the Carolinas, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and US Department of Justice (DOJ) are urging Americans to remain vigilant against opportunistic scammers.
While people strive to get back on their feet and mourn the loss of loved ones, the FTC has warned consumers to watch out for imposters and fraudsters attempting to cash in on the havoc.
The consumer agency and DOJ recommend you:
The DOJ has also committed to tracking down and punishing those seeking to fill their pockets after hurricane season.
“Fraudsters targeting individuals who are already suffering from the impact of Hurricane Ian is despicable and an inexcusable crime,” the Executive Director of the NCDF. “We are still in hurricane season, and it is important for people to be on the lookout for fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters through identity theft schemes and solicitations for fake charities.”
“The Department of Justice, through U.S. Attorney Offices across all states and territories of the United States, are committed to detecting this type of fraud and will aggressively prosecute the offenders,” he added.
The DOJ asks that anyone who has fallen victim to a disaster-related crime immediately report it to the NCDF.
Scammers prey on unwary internet users to steal personal information and money after disaster strikes. With Bitdefender security and privacy solutions, you can stay on top of fraudulent websites, links and other nasty internet threats to protect your financial wellbeing.
Read more about our identity protection and privacy solutions here.
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Alina is a history buff passionate about cybersecurity and anything sci-fi, advocating Bitdefender technologies and solutions. She spends most of her time between her two feline friends and traveling.
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