The former Hurricane Harvey has come and gone, leaving with it a wake of destruction and several lost lives. The storm could have cost billions of dollars in damage, but it’s not just floodwaters and building repairs that people worry about following hurricanes.
Authorities are bracing for a different post-hurricane fight: the fight against fraud.
After large disasters like Harvey or 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans, federal and state officials will warn people to be prepared to be targeted by storm-related scams. These can include things like contract corruption, document fraud, identity theft, charity fraud, emergency assistance fraud and other crimes. Since 2005, a task force has been prosecuting those who perpetrate these scams. Nearly 1,500 defendants have been prosecuted for crimes associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita alone.
Here are some of the most common disaster scam scenarios.
Common Disaster Scams
- People claiming to be inspectors, like FEMA inspectors, insurance inspectors or even National Flood Insurance Program inspectors.
- Fraud submissions. People claiming that others have filed claims on their property already and that their Social Security numbers are being used by someone else.
- Charitable solicitations involving people posing as legitimate organizations that claim to be raising funds for others.
- Price gouging, when businesses or individuals raise prices to take advantage of the disaster.
- Contractor and vendor fraud, when people pose as repairmen with no intent to actually finish the jobs they are paid for.
Though this crime comes in many forms, what it essentially boils down to is intentional misrepresentation for the purpose of harming another person or profiting from them. If you have been accused of fraud, you want to immediately discuss the accusations with a criminal defense attorney. The penalties can vary widely, but they can be serious. Your attorney can help you plot your best defense to have potential penalties reduced or even dismissed.
Mike GoolsbyA veteran in both civil court cases and criminal defense, Mike Goolsby is a respected lawyer with more than 16 years of experience practicing law. He received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of North Texas in 1990, followed by his J.D. from the prestigious Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1994. After earning his law degree, Mr. Goolsby worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. As a trial lawyer, he was able to gain exceptional access to the criminal court system in this major metropolitan area, giving him immeasurable, distinct experience that helped him build a solid foundation for his own private legal practice. Mr. Goolsby went on to practice civil law for Maverick Acceptance Group, a venture capital company. Here, he gained invaluable knowledge of the civil side of the law, adding to his already diverse portfolio of legal expertise. In 1999, he opened the doors of The Goolsby Law Firm and has been successfully serving the residents of North Texas ever since. As an attorney, Mr. Goolsby combines his experience in both the civil and criminal fields to offer unmatched legal representation to his clients. With a long list of satisfied clients, Mr. Goolsby continues to build his practice through fair and aggressive legal defense.