Suspected Hurricane Ida
Crimes Should be Reported to National Center for Disaster Fraud
BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Acting U.S.
Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana Ellison C. Travis are urging
suspected Hurricane Ida fraud victims to file complaints with the National
Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF). Their plea comes on the heels of multiple
reports of suspected contractor, FEMA, and SBA fraud related to Hurricane Ida.
The NCDF was established by the U.S. Department of
Justice after Hurricane Katrina. It is a nationwide organization of law
enforcement agents that further detects, investigates, and prosecutes those
responsible for disaster related fraud. The NCDF Hotline receives complaints
and refers them to the appropriate federal, state, or local agency for
investigation.
“Our office and the NCDF share a common aim to
aggressively investigate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit calamity
for personal reward,” said Attorney General Landry. “We stand united with our
law enforcement partners to ensure victims of Hurricane Ida receive the help
they need and do not fall prey to another tragedy.”
“My office has no tolerance for criminals who target disaster victims.
Working with Attorney General Landry and other federal, state, and local law
enforcement agencies, we can protect victims of Ida from criminals who, out of
wanton greed, exploit this tragedy for their own gain,” said Acting U.S.
Attorney Travis. “Potential fraudsters must know that, under Federal law, there
is a 30-year maximum sentence in Federal prison for those who commit fraud
related to disasters. My office will continue to act aggressively to bring to
justice those who would further harm victims of Hurricane Ida and other
disasters."
The public’s assistance in combatting disaster fraud is
essential to preventing crime and, when fraud has been committed, helping law
enforcement prosecute the criminals. “Be alert; if you see suspicious activity
or abuse, report it to the NCDF,” added Travis.
After a storm, fraudulent contractors will target those
affected by offering to perform their repairs quickly, while at the same time
demanding payment before any work is performed. You can avoid becoming a victim
by never paying a contractor for work that has not been completed, hiring
well-known local contractors with a reputation for performing good work, asking
your insurance claim adjuster to review a contract before you sign, asking for
proof of liability insurance and state licensure, and never paying with cash
since that leaves no trail if an investigation becomes necessary.
Landry and Travis want Louisiana residents to know that if you were
visited by a FEMA inspector or received a letter from FEMA or the SBA stating
that you have filed a claim for disaster assistance when you have not, you may
be a victim of FEMA fraud. If this applies to you, it is important for you to
contact FEMA directly at 800-621-3362 to let them know the application is
fraudulent.
If you have been the victim of any type of disaster
fraud, then immediately file a complaint with the NCDF via phone at
866-720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
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More consumer tips for natural disaster victims may be
found at www.agjefflandry.com/Files/Shared/Documents/ConsumerTipsforNaturalDisasters.pdf