Post-Disaster Scams: What to Know and Avoid

Being aware of how criminals target those in desperate circumstances can empower us to safeguard ourselves, our loved ones, and our possessions. Nenad Cavoski/Shutterstock

In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey flooded my town with 40 inches of rain and millions of gallons of water released from an upstream dam, which more than tripled the hurricane flood damage.

Fortunately, our home was spared, but thousands of homes and businesses were flooded to their rooftops. The devastation was shocking to me, but something worse quickly followed—a deluge of scammers, thieves, and low-lifes. Human vultures were looking for any opportunity to prey on victims who had just lost everything.