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FEMA warns of scams targeting Halong survivors

Christopher E. Zimmer
/
Shutterstock

Federal and state officials are warning of frauds and scams targeting survivors of Typhoon Halong.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and state officials said that scam artists may pose as government officials, aid workers, or employees of insurance agencies.

FEMA advises that people alway ask to see official identification from people who say they are inspectors. All FEMA employees will carry photo ID badges.

FEMA and local disaster workers do not charge for any kind of assistance.

The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation warned in late November that survivors of Typhoon Halong should also be aware of fake assistance webpages, and of anyone who contacts survivors directly requesting personal information, like fees or bank details, in exchange for financial assistance.

The finance corporation does not use private messages on social media or any third party individual to offer disaster relief or emergency funds.

If you are contacted by anyone who seems suspicious, FEMA says to call 1-866-342-1699 to verify if that FEMA contact is legitimate.

To report disaster fraud, you can also email law enforcement at StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov.
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Rashah McChesney is a photojournalist turned radio journalist who has been telling stories in Alaska since 2012. Before joining Alaska's Energy Desk , she worked at Kenai's Peninsula Clarion and the Juneau bureau of the Associated Press. She is a graduate of Iowa State University's Greenlee Journalism School and has worked in public television, newspapers and now radio, all in the quest to become the Swiss Army knife of storytellers.