Louisiana Attorney General issued the following annoucement on Oct. 13.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana Ellison C. Travis are urging suspected Hurricane Ida fraud victims to file complaints with the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF). Their plea comes on the heels of multiple reports of suspected contractor, FEMA, and SBA fraud related to Hurricane Ida.
The NCDF was established by the U.S. Department of Justice after Hurricane Katrina. It is a nationwide organization of law enforcement agents that further detects, investigates, and prosecutes those responsible for disaster related fraud. The NCDF Hotline receives complaints and refers them to the appropriate federal, state, or local agency for investigation.
“Our office and the NCDF share a common aim to aggressively investigate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit calamity for personal reward,” said Attorney General Landry. “We stand united with our law enforcement partners to ensure victims of Hurricane Ida receive the help they need and do not fall prey to another tragedy.”
“My office has no tolerance for criminals who target disaster victims. Working with Attorney General Landry and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, we can protect victims of Ida from criminals who, out of wanton greed, exploit this tragedy for their own gain,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Travis. “Potential fraudsters must know that, under Federal law, there is a 30-year maximum sentence in Federal prison for those who commit fraud related to disasters. My office will continue to act aggressively to bring to justice those who would further harm victims of Hurricane Ida and other disasters."
The public’s assistance in combatting disaster fraud is essential to preventing crime and, when fraud has been committed, helping law enforcement prosecute the criminals. “Be alert; if you see suspicious activity or abuse, report it to the NCDF,” added Travis.
After a storm, fraudulent contractors will target those affected by offering to perform their repairs quickly, while at the same time demanding payment before any work is performed. You can avoid becoming a victim by never paying a contractor for work that has not been completed, hiring well-known local contractors with a reputation for performing good work, asking your insurance claim adjuster to review a contract before you sign, asking for proof of liability insurance and state licensure, and never paying with cash since that leaves no trail if an investigation becomes necessary.
Landry and Travis want Louisiana residents to know that if you were visited by a FEMA inspector or received a letter from FEMA or the SBA stating that you have filed a claim for disaster assistance when you have not, you may be a victim of FEMA fraud. If this applies to you, it is important for you to contact FEMA directly at 800-621-3362 to let them know the application is fraudulent.
Original source can be found here.