FEMA CALLS MAY COME FROM UNKNOWN PHONE NUMBERS
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/fema-calls-may-come-unknown-phone-numbers]


Release Date: 
Jul 26, 2024 

Residents of Lincoln, Otero, Rio Arriba and San Juan counties and the
Mescalero Apache Reservation, who applied for FEMA disaster assistance
following the South Fork and Salt fires and flooding in New Mexico,
should be aware that FEMA may call from unfamiliar area codes and
phone numbers or show no caller ID.

It is important to answer the call. FEMA representatives are reaching
out to citizens that have applied for disaster
assistance. Representatives may call for a variety of reasons such as
issues with applications (missing documents, insurance settlement
paperwork, etc.), follow-up on access and functional needs and/or to
schedule inspections at the address where the damage was reported.
Inspections are required to determine whether a home is safe,
sanitary, functional and accessible. If an inspection cannot be
scheduled, that may cause a delay in FEMA’s review of the
application. 

TAKE STEPS TO AVOID SCAMS

If any of the following applies, call the FEMA Helpline at
800-621-3362 to verify the identity of the caller, stop the processing
of an application made in your name without your knowledge, or apply
for FEMA assistance if you live within a declared county.

Always be alert to these _illegitimate_ practices:

	* A FEMA inspector calls and you did not submit a FEMA application.
	* A FEMA inspector asks for your banking information. (FEMA
inspectors are never authorized to collect your personal financial
information.)
	* A payment is requested from someone who says they are from FEMA.
(FEMA will never request payment.) 

If any of these things happen to you — or if you receive a call from
someone saying they are a FEMA representative, but you aren’t sure -
call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to report the incident. 

If you believe you are
the victim of a scam related to the fires and floods, you should file a
complaint with the New Mexico Department of Justice. Visit Fire
Recovery - New Mexico Department of Justice (nmdoj.gov)

If you have knowledge of fraud, waste or abuse, you can report these
tips – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – to the FEMA Disaster
Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. You can also
email StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov to report a tip.