SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

A Free Public Service

July 25, 2025

Attributon: US FTC.gov

Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.
Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.
Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.
Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.
Scammers know natural disasters create opportunities to take advantage of people. One way they do that is by impersonating Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials to steal people’s money and personal information. FEMA impersonators often show up, call, or text people after a weather emergency and offer services like disaster grants or home inspections for a fee, usually cash up front. But these are scams: FEMA doesn’t charge people for disaster assistance.

Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.Here’s how to spot and avoid FEMA impersonators to help keep your finances and identity safe during and after a weather emergency.

• Know that FEMA employees will never ask for money for inspections, disaster assistance, debris removal, grants, help with applications, or appeals. FEMA inspectors will not ask for your banking information. And anyone who says they work for FEMA but asks for money or financial information is a scammer.
• Verify their identity. FEMA staff and their contractors always wear an official badge with their name and photo on it. But scammers sometimes make fake badges or wear FEMA-branded clothing. If you’re unsure about someone claiming to be a FEMA representative, contact FEMA directly at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
• Don’t respond to unexpected calls and texts. If you get unexpected calls or texts from people claiming to be from FEMA, but you’ve never applied for FEMA disaster assistance, it’s highly likely to be a scam. FEMA only contacts people who’ve contacted them or applied for FEMA disaster assistance, and the agency never sends texts demanding money or personal information.

Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information and learn more about how to spot and avoid other disaster-related scams at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.

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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California. USA.

A free Public Service

July 15, 2025

Attribution: US FTC.gov

In response to the devastating flash flooding in central Texas, many are looking for ways to get and give help. And scammers are looking to prey on people’s generosity. So how can you make sure your donations go to the people who need them and not to a scammer?

• Donate to charities you know and trust with a proven track record of dealing with disasters.
• Before you give, research the charity yourself — especially if the donation request comes on social media. Check out the charity on the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org, or Charity Watch. Find out exactly how much of your donation will go directly to the people the charity says it helps.
• Don’t donate to anyone who insists you must pay by cash, gift card, wiring money, or cryptocurrency. That’s how scammers tell you to pay. If you decide to donate, paying by credit card gives you more protections.
• Be cautious about giving to individuals on crowdfunding sites. Know that money raised in a crowdfunding campaign goes to the campaign organizer, not directly to the people or cause it’s set up to help. Review the platform’s policies — does it take measures to verify postings that ask for help after a disaster? And know that donating via crowdfunding is not tax deductible.
• Confirm the number before you text to donate. If someone asks you to donate by text, call the number on the charity’s website to confirm you have the right number to donate by text.

To learn more about how to donate safely, go to ftc.gov/charity. For advice to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from weather emergencies and the scams that follow, check out ftc.gov/weatheremergencies.

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• Donate to charities you know and trust with a proven track record of dealing with disasters.
• Before you give, research the charity yourself — especially if the donation request comes on social media. Check out the charity on the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org, or Charity Watch. Find out exactly how much of your donation will go directly to the people the charity says it helps.
• Don’t donate to anyone who insists you must pay by cash, gift card, wiring money, or cryptocurrency. That’s how scammers tell you to pay. If you decide to donate, paying by credit card gives you more protections.
• Be cautious about giving to individuals on crowdfunding sites. Know that money raised in a crowdfunding campaign goes to the campaign organizer, not directly to the people or cause it’s set up to help. Review the platform’s policies — does it take measures to verify postings that ask for help after a disaster? And know that donating via crowdfunding is not tax deductible.
• Confirm the number before you text to donate. If someone asks you to donate by text, call the number on the charity’s website to confirm you have the right number to donate by text.

To learn more about how to donate safely, go to ftc.gov/charity. For advice to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from weather emergencies and the scams that follow, check out ftc.gov/weatheremergencies.

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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

A Free Public Service

July 11, 2025

Attribution: FTC.gov

Scammers are always “hiring” but don’t actually want to employ you. Instead, they want your money, personal information, or both. Here’s how to spot and avoid a job scam.

Scammy recruiters who claim to be recruiting for a big-name employer often reach out by email or text with a remote job offer — sometimes from a personal phone number or email account. You might get an email with an official-looking invitation for a virtual interview along with information about your job duties and job benefits.

Then they’ll move fast. Before you even interview, you might get an official-looking job offer along with paperwork that requires your personal financial information (supposedly for direct deposit). The recruiter will push for that information before they answer your questions about the job. In reality, there is no job and the “recruiter” is a scammer. Real employers won’t ask for that kind of information before they’ve actually interviewed and hired you.

How do you know if that job offer is a scam?

• Look at the sender’s email address. Is the email from a business or a personal email? Recruiters will generally email from a corporate email account, not from a personal email like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com.
• They ask for your personal information before you interview. Scammers will ask for your driver’s license, Social Security, or bank account number to fill out “employment paperwork”. Your sensitive information might be the focus of your “interview” and they might ask to get that information before they’ll talk about job duties.
• Check out the recruiter. Search online the name of the recruiter or their company to see what you find about them. Type the name with words like “scam” or “complaint.”

For more information on how to spot job scams, go to ftc.gov/jobscams.

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A Free Public Service

July 1, 2025

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California, USA.

The FTC is sending out over 969,000 payments worth more than $126 million to Fortnite gamers charged for unwanted items.

If you submitted a valid claim by February 14, 2025, you’ll get the payment via the method you requested. If you get a check, cash it within 90 days. If you get a PayPal payment, accept it within 30 days. You don’t need to do anything else to get your payment.

If you submitted a claim after February 14, 2025, the FTC will review your claim. You don’t need to do anything else.

If you think you’re eligible for a refund and haven’t already submitted a claim, go to ftc.gov/Fortnite to learn if you’re eligible and how to apply. All claims are due by Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Avoid scams related to the Fortnite refunds program. The FTC will never ask you to pay money to file a claim. If you get an email or text message that tells you to click a link or pay to get your refund, it’s a scam. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Get more information about the FTC’s Fortnite refunds program at ftc.gov/Fortnite.

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