June marks both National Homeownership Month and the start of hurricane season, a reminder that severe weather and financial scams often occur together.
For both first-time buyers and experienced homeowners, preparation is critical to protect property and safeguard personal and financial information.
“Fraud activity today is faster, more targeted and more convincing than ever before,” said Raju Bhatia, chief security officer at Regions Bank. “The days following a storm are prime time for financial exploitation.
“As families deal with flooding, wind damage and displacement, scammers use urgency, confusion and advanced technology to gain access to money and personal information,” Bhatia said.
When a severe storm is approaching, protecting your home and family comes first. Regions Bank, a home lender of choice for many homeowners, encourages proactive planning to reduce both physical and financial risk.
How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane
When a severe storm is approaching, protecting your home and family comes first. The National Weather Service recommends taking the following steps:
Key hurricane preparedness tips:
Secure windows and doors
- Install storm shutters or board up windows with plywood.
- Reinforce doors to prevent wind and debris from entering.
- Broken windows often lead to significant structural damage.
Bring in or anchor outdoor items
- Move patio furniture, décor and tools indoors or secure them.
- Loose objects can become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Reinforce your home’s structure
- Inspect and strengthen the roof, doors and garage doors.
- Seal gaps to reduce water intrusion.
- Ensure your home is as wind- and water-resistant as possible.
How to Avoid Scams After a Natural Disaster
Many homeowners face a second wave of risk after a storm: fraud. Scammers often target disaster survivors when they are most vulnerable.
Research shows a significant number of disaster survivors encounter potential scams within weeks of a major event, making awareness essential.
What are the most common post-storm scams?
Contractor and repair fraud
- “Storm chasers” target damaged neighborhoods.
- Red flags include large upfront payments, no written contract or pressure to sign immediately.
- Lack of a local presence is another warning sign.
Government or FEMA impersonation
- Scammers pose as inspectors or relief workers.
- They may offer expedited payments or benefits.
- Legitimate agencies do not charge fees to apply for assistance.
Bank and insurance impersonation scams
- Fraudsters send phishing emails or texts posing as trusted institutions.
- Messages often request account or policy verification.
Fake charities and disaster relief funds
- Fraudulent organizations appear quickly after disasters.
- Requests for donations via gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency are major warning signs.
Mortgage relief and rental scams
- Scammers offer fake foreclosure assistance or rental listings.
- Displaced families are often targeted with urgent or misleading offers.
How to Protect Yourself From Disaster Scams
“What we’re seeing now is a convergence of urgency and technology,” Bhatia said. “Scammers are combining emotional pressure with sophisticated, AI-generated tactics that can convincingly mimic trusted institutions.”
Despite increasingly advanced scams, basic prevention strategies remain highly effective.
“Our advice is simple: stop, call, confirm,” Bhatia said. “If something feels rushed, unusual or too good to be true, take a step back and independently verify it using a trusted contact.”
If something feels rushed, unusual or too good to be true, take a step back and independently verify it using a trusted contact.
Raju Bhatia, chief security officer at Regions Bank
Smart tips to protect your money and information:
- Be cautious of anyone offering unsolicited recovery services or “free money.”
- Avoid paying large upfront fees for home repairs.
- Do not share personal or financial information without verifying legitimacy.
- Double-check emails, links and website domains for subtle misspellings.
- Contact banks, insurers or agencies directly using trusted phone numbers.
- Be wary of unsolicited calls or emails requesting sensitive information – at home or at work.
- Use antivirus software, firewalls and secure email filters.
- Properly destroy old devices that contain sensitive data.
- Keep secure backups of passwords, insurance documents and account information.
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.