Indiana: Be Alert for Post-Disaster Fraud

fter disasters, con-artists and criminals may try to get money or steal personal information through fraud or identity theft. In some cases, thieves try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from survivors. Indiana residents recovering from the March 31 –April 1, 2023, severe storms and tornadoes need to pay attention for these risks and protect themselves.

Fraudulent Applications

If a FEMA inspector comes to your home and you did not submit a FEMA application, your information may have been used without your knowledge to create a FEMA application. If this happens, inform the inspector that you did not apply for FEMA assistance, so they can submit a request to stop further processing of the application.

If you did not apply for assistance but receive a letter from FEMA, please call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The Helpline will submit a request to stop any further processing of that application.

If you wish to apply for FEMA assistance after stopping an application made in your name without your knowledge, the FEMA Helpline will assist you in creating a new application.

Other Disaster-Related Scams

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams, housing inspectors and other officials will be working in areas impacted by the March 31 – April 1, 2023, severe storms and tornadoes. They have official identification badges with photo IDs. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration representatives never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.

Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant in return for payment.

Be careful of unexpected phone calls or visits to your home from people claiming to be FEMA housing inspectors or people claiming they work for FEMA. FEMA inspectors will have your FEMA application number.

Don’t give your banking information to a person claiming to be a FEMA housing inspector. FEMA inspectors are never authorized to collect your personal financial information.

Take Action

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, report it immediately to your local police or sheriff’s department. Consumers may also report charity or disaster scams to the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of Indiana Attorney General online at indianaconsumer.com.

If you have knowledge of fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving FEMA’s disaster relief operations, you can report this to FEMA or DHS: FEMA Fraud Branch. Email: StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs. gov, fax: (202) 212-4926 or write to: FEMA Fraud and Internal Investigation Division, 400 C Street SW Mail Stop 3005, Washington, DC 20472-3005.

DHS Office of Inspector General. Use their online allegation form (Recommended), call: (866) 720-5721, fax: (202) 2544297, or write to: DHS Office of Inspector General / MAIL STOP 0305, Attn: Office of Investigations – Hotline, 245 Murray Lane SW, Washington, DC 20528-0305.

If you suspect identity theft, please visit Identity Theft | FTC Consumer Information or IdentityTheft.gov.

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Real Estate Questions & Answers

CATHY & JIM HIGGINS

Question: We just recently closed on a home and upon moving in, we discovered a horrible cat urine smell in the master bedroom closet. While trying to resolve the problem, we noticed some stains on the carpet.

I am curious to know if the previous owner and their broker are obligated to disclose pet damage to the area. They were the only owners of the home and up to this point have denied the existence of a cat. Based on the smell and the stains, it appears otherwise. Do we have any recourse?

Answer: When you buy real estate owners have an obligation to disclose material defects -- and buyers have an obligation to protect their interests.

Did you make the sale contingent on a home inspection satisfactory to you? Was the closet somehow off limits? Were the stains purposely hidden? If the odor is now so pronounced, why did you not notice it during the pre-closing walk through or when you originally looked at the home?

The owners, if they had a cat, could say