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When a natural disaster strikes — like a hurricane, wildfire, severe storm, or flood — being prepared can make all the difference. This National Preparedness Month, make a plan (or review your existing plan) and take steps to protect yourself and your household from disaster-related scams.

Scammers love a crisis and, after emergencies, often pose as contractors, government officials, or charities to try to steal people’s money or personal information. The FTC has information and tools to help you avoid fraud as you prepare for and recover from an emergency.

  • Start at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies where you’ll find resources to help you spot, avoid, and report scams as you prepare for, deal with, and recover from extreme weather and natural disasters. The site’s mobile-friendly, so you’ll have access whenever and wherever you need it.
  • Picking Up the Pieces After a Disaster is a customizable handout to spread the word, so people in your community are also prepared to spot and avoid common post-disaster scams, like clean-up and repair scams, and government impersonator scams. The handout has space to add local consumer protection and emergency service contacts, like your state Attorney General’s office, or a local emergency management office. Download a digital copy to print and distribute in your community.
  • Order free print publications to share with community organizations, social clubs you belong to, or in your place of worship. Get your free materials at ftc.gov/bulkorder.

Suspect a disaster-related scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Every report helps the FTC build cases, work to stop scammers, and alert others about current fraud trends. 

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