Published Date 9/1/2017
For every natural disaster, such as the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, there are hundreds of scammers emerging from under their damp rocks, seeking to profit from the misery of others. Here are some of the most commons scams, and how to avoid falling prey to them.
Fake rental listings
At this writing, more than 1 million people have been driven displaced due to Hurricane Harvey. Many will not be able to return to their homes and will be seeking replacement housing. These unfortunate victims are a prime target for rental scammers. Although rental scams have become more common with the nation’s housing shortage and rising rents, they are even more prevalent in the wake of a disaster like Harvey. The scammers target desperate people who have lost nearly everything they own, including their homes.
To guard against these predators, anyone seeking rental housing should take these precautions:
Fake contractors
With the widespread devastation from the storm, fraudulent “contractors” come out in droves. Some simply do shoddy work, while others take their victims’ money and disappear without doing any work at all. Here are some ways to avoid being taken:
Fake charities and aid organizations
When a natural disaster hits, scammers will use people’s kindness to line their pockets with “donations.” Some of these people will go door-to-door soliciting donations. They may be well-dressed, polite and earnest, but their appearance alone should not be enough to get you to part with your well-intentioned dollars. Take these precautions:
Clickbait
While this is not quite a scam, “clickbait” sites still mislead and deceive in the wake of any natural disaster to make money by tricking you into visiting their sites. They frequently lure viewers with sensational Photoshopped images with captions like, “You won’t believe what happens next…”
Clickbait is not as harmful as the others we’ve mentioned here, but it is still the despicable practice of profiting from the misery and misfortune of others.
Scammers have been exploiting disasters for as long as we have walked on two legs. Being forewarned of some of their tactics can keep you from becoming a victim.
Source: TBWSAll information furnished has been forwarded to you and is provided by thetbwsgroup only for informational purposes. Forecasting shall be considered as events which may be expected but not guaranteed. Neither the forwarding party and/or company nor thetbwsgroup assume any responsibility to any person who relies on information or forecasting contained in this report and disclaims all liability in respect to decisions or actions, or lack thereof based on any or all of the contents of this report.
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