As hurricane season reaches its peak, fraudsters get ready to creep.
It is a disturbing trend. After disasters, scammers strike. Regions Bank always works to support customers and communities after natural disasters. And one of the best ways we can serve is by helping people and businesses stay informed and stay safe from fraud.
Following the devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country this July, the FBI issued an important warning about scammers looking to exploit the tragedies. Guidance that should also be followed all hurricane season.
“Unfortunately, after major catastrophic events it is common for scammers to seek opportunities to take advantage of the charitable public who generously contribute to recovery efforts,” the FBI press release warned. “Fraudsters capitalize on the goodness of regular Americans by posing as charities or humanitarian aid organizations where fraudulent donations can be solicited in person, online, or via cryptocurrency.”
In 2024, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 4,500 complaints representing approximately $96 million in losses from fraudulent charities and disaster relief campaigns.
At Regions Bank, we work diligently on educating our customers and the public about ongoing threats. The disaster scam is one of the most nefarious because victims on the ground are already vulnerable.
“Sharing our blessings and resources when disaster strikes is the right thing to do,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics for Regions Bank. “Unfortunately, fraudsters often use these events to intercept or redirect donations. Be sure to follow these tips from the FBI.”
Sharing our blessings and resources when disaster strikes is the right thing to do.
Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics for Regions Bank
FBI Tips to Protect Yourself from a Disaster Scam
- Do your own research before you donate to anything. Confirm the validity of any charitable opportunity. Best practices include, but are not limited to: Verifying charities by researching the charity online to see if there are news articles, reviews or posts linking the charity to fraud; checking to see if the charity is registered with your state’s charity regulator, if available; and checking the Internal Revenue Service’s website (https://www.irs.gov) to see if the charity is registered.
- Validating that crowdfunding efforts are supporting the beneficiaries advertised; researching who is behind the crowdfunding request; researching who the request is intended to benefit and if the need is legitimate; and reverse searching images and stories associated with the request, as scammers will often copy and paste material stolen from others.
- Be suspicious of online communications claiming to be from individuals affected by the events and seeking immediate financial assistance.
- Recognize that pressure to “act fast” might be a sign of a scam.
- Do not send payments to unknown individuals or organizations asking for financial assistance.
- Do not communicate with or open texts, posts, emails, attachments, or links from unknown individuals posing as entities soliciting charitable donations or humanitarian aid.
- Review email headers and domain information to evaluate legitimacy. Emails from official organizations almost never will come from free email services. IP addresses can reveal if the information is originating from overseas. Domain names and IP addresses’ current registration information may be available through the registry at ICANN.org if it was not restricted by the domain or IP address owner.
- If an unknown individual contacts you, do not release any financial or personal identifying information (PII), and do not send any money.
- If you have already donated funds and believe you are a victim of a scheme, do not pay additional fees or taxes to obtain a refund of your money. Do not pay for any services that claim they can recover lost funds.
- Do not use debit, gift, or prepaid cards for payment.
“Following these tips can ensure that your donations are going to a reputable and worthy cause,” said Kimberly Reece of the Fraud Prevention Customer Advocacy team at Regions Bank. “Sharing this information with your family and friends can also help them make informed decisions about where and how to help those in need.”
If you think you are a victim of a disaster scam, report it immediately to the Internet Crime Complain Center. Provide as much identifying information as possible (including individual or charity names, phone numbers and addresses and websites used in the deception).
Remember, there are plenty of people in need. Just make sure your donation gets to the right people.
Additional Resources from Regions.com
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The information presented is general in nature and should not be considered, legal, accounting or tax advice. Regions reminds its customers that they should be vigilant about fraud and security and that they are responsible for taking action to protect their computer systems. Fraud prevention requires a continuous review of your policies and practices, as the threat evolves daily. There is no guarantee that all fraudulent transactions will be prevented or that related financial losses will not occur. Visit regions.com/STOPFRAUD or speak with your Banker for further information on how you can help prevent fraud.