Fraud Information

ALERT: FEMA is NOT going door-to-door offering to buy houses in northwest Iowa. If someone is offering to buy your house, they are not working for FEMA. Additionally, FEMA does NOT have approved contractors for home repairs, construction or debris removal. We encourage survivors to watch for and report any suspicious activity. For additional information visit Disaster Fraud | FEMA.gov.

If you believe you are a victim of fraud, file a complaint or contact the Fraud Bureau of the Insurance Insurance Division. 

You can also report fraud by contacting FEMA Investigations and Inspections Division at StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov,  or by calling 1-866-223-0814.

Be Aware of Fraud and Scams 

Disaster recovery scams can take many forms, including fake offers of aid, fraudulent contractors, and phishing attacks. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a victim:

• State and Federal agencies will never charge you for disaster assistance.
• Verify Identities. Government employees will carry identification. When in doubt contact agencies through their verified website or contact information. 
• Do not provide any personal information unless you have verified that the person you are speaking with is official.
• Be wary of unsolicited contact. State and Federal agencies will reach out to you after you apply, not the other way around.
• Don’t make decisions under pressure.  When in doubt verify identities and programs. 
• Stay tuned to trusted local media and official government agencies for disaster fraud and scams.

If you are in an area covered under a Federal Presidential Disaster Declaration

Housing inspectors claiming to represent FEMA

Ask the person to show you their identification badge. Federal employees always wear an official government badge to identify themselves.

Fake offers of local or federal aid

• Don’t trust someone who asks for money. Federal and local disaster workers do not solicit or accept money. FEMA and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) staff never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections or help in filling out applications.
• Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant and asks for large cash deposits or advance payments in full.

Fraudulent building contractors

• Use licensed or verified local contractors backed by reliable references.
• Don’t pay more than half the costs of repairs in advance.
• Demand that contractors detail the job to be done with guarantees in writing.

After major disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) creates “Rumor Control” pages to dispel misinformation and help you protect yourself against scams. Find your local rumor control page on FEMA’s website  by searching the name of the disaster you were in and ‘rumors.’ FEMA also has a “Current Disasters”  page that lists recent disaster declarations and includes a tool you can use to search by location. 

Read more information from FEMA about spotting and reporting fraud .

Report Price Gouging 

During periods of crisis people may offer “limited time only” deals or say the price of materials will rise if you don’t act now. These are also called “scarcity tactics.” Be suspicious of anyone offering to move you to the front of the line. Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, virtual currency, or cash, because it can be harder to get your money back. And wait to or make the final payment until the work is done to your satisfaction.

If consumers see what they believe to be price gouging, they can call the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-888-777-4590, email consumer@ag.iowa.gov or file an online complaint.

A disaster declaration triggers the state’s price-gouging rule, which forbids excessive prices for goods or services “needed by victims of disasters.” That includes, but is not limited to, water, food, medicines, sanitation supplies, utilities, and building materials. An excessive price is one “not justified by the seller’s actual costs of acquiring, producing, selling, transporting, and delivering the actual product sold, plus a reasonable profit.” 

The prohibition on charging excessive prices applies to all sellers of merchandise, which include but are not limited to brick and mortar stores, suppliers, internet stores, and sales on social media sites, for example, Craigslist, Facebook, and buy/sell online marketplaces. Sellers who accept excessive prices on online auction sites are not exempt from Iowa’s price-gouging law. 

For more information, see this Price-Gouging Fact Sheet.