HURRICANE SURVIVORS WARNED TO BE AWARE OF FRAUD AND SCAM ARTISTS
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210318/hurricane-survivors-warned-be-aware-fraud-and-scam-artists]


Release Date: 
Tháng 3 23, 2018 

ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency
(VITEMA) remind hurricane survivors that scam artists could be at work
in the U.S. Virgin Islands, targeting survivors of hurricanes Irma and
Maria.

Here are a few guidelines to protect yourself, or someone you care
about, from disaster fraud:

	* FEMA and other federal workers do not ask for, or accept, money.
They will never charge applicants for disaster assistance, home
inspections, or help filling out applications. Stay alert for false
promises to speed up the insurance, disaster assistance, or building
permit process – and do not give anyone money for such assistance.
	* If someone approaches you and says they are representing the
Emergency Home Repairs VI program, ask to see identification. The
Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA), which administers
the Emergency Home Repairs VI program, assigns inspections of homes
after survivors register with the program. These inspectors will
identify themselves by showing their Emergency Home Repairs VI Badge
with the VIHFA logo, inspector name and photo.  The case managers
from Emergency Home Repairs VI program will schedule an appointment
time for the inspection.  Inspectors will not show up to the
residence unless the case manager has called to confirm the
appointment with the homeowner.
	* If you have a question about your inspection, call Emergency Home
Repairs VI at 844-813-9191.
	* VIHFA inspectors will not ask for money. The repairs are paid
through FEMA’s Public Assistance program. They will already have
your registration information.
	* If you are approached via phone, email or in person by someone
claiming to represent a charity helping disaster survivors, ask for
the charity’s exact name, street address, phone number, and web
address, then contact the charity directly and confirm that the person
asking for funds is an employee or volunteer. Always take steps to
ensure the charity is legitimate before you give money, and request a
receipt with the charity’s name, street address, phone number and
web address (if applicable). Legitimate nonprofit agencies routinely
provide receipts for tax purposes.
	* If you are unsure or uncomfortable with anyone you encounter
claiming to be an emergency management official or charity worker, do
not give out personal information, and report the incident.
	* If you suspect fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster
Fraud’s hotline at 866-720-5721 or email the organization at
disaster@leo.gov. Learn more about the National Center for Disaster
Fraud at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
[http://fema.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d9%2f56%40%26JDG%3c%3a9%3a-%3b3%40%26SDG%3c90%3a.&RE=IN&RI=711798&Preview=False&DistributionActionID=28434&Action=Follow+Link].
	* You may also report any suspicious activity to any one of the
Virgin Islands police departments.

###

 

_Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race,
color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English
proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been
discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (voice,
711/VRS - Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Multilingual
operators are available (press 2 for Spanish)._

_FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after a
disaster._

_For official information on the recovery effort following the
hurricanes, please visit __www.informusvi.com_
[http://www.informusvi.com/]_ or __www.usviupdate.com_
[http://www.usviupdate.com/]_. Follow us on social media at_
_twitter.com/femaregion2_ [https://twitter.com/femaregion2]_ and
__www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands_
[http://www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands]_._

_To donate or volunteer, contact the voluntary or charitable
organization of your choice through the National Voluntary Agencies
Active in Disasters (NVOAD) at __www.nvoad.org_
[http://www.nvoad.org/]_.  __For those who wish to help, CASH
donations offer voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining
the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to
help businesses recover. The Community Foundation of the Virgin
Islands also has the “Fund for the Virgin Islands” at
__www.USVIrecovery.org_ [http://www.usvirecovery.org/]_. _