Spotting FEMA Scams: Protect Yourself and Your Family

Several wildfires are still raging across California. While some families affected by the Eaton fire will be able to return to their homes soon, those displaced by the Palisades fire still have a ways to go. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has promised aid to those who lost their homes or were otherwise devastated by these fires. However, much like the contractor scams that often pop up after disasters, there are several FEMA scams out there as well. Spotting them is crucial so you can protect yourself.

Regrouping and trying to rebuild after a disaster is difficult because everything has to move quickly. Families are still reeling and grieving; they need time to breathe and sort out a plan. However, it’s imperative that they figure out temporary housing, file insurance claims, and apply for any kind of aid available. Unfortunately, that crunched timetable lends itself to scams.

Normally, the calls to apply quickly and give your personal information might reasonably raise red flags. But if you’re trying to figure out how to house yourself and your family while also researching relief so that you can rebuild your home, and doing all of that while still in shock or grieving, it’s much harder to discern the real applications from the scams.

Common FEMA Scams

Disinformation is much harder to sort through during a disaster, and scammers often take advantage of misinformation to make their ploys seem more convincing. The most common FEMA scams include a hefty application fee. Sometimes, the scammers just want your money, but sometimes, they also want your personal details so they can steal even more from you.

FEMA keeps a running list of some of the most reported scams out there and debunks the claims with the correct information so you can protect yourself. Common scams include:

• Telling you to call a phone number to get cash payments immediately.
• Encouraging you to call a phone number to get money for hotels.
• Charging you to apply for the financial relief.

As a general rule of thumb, if you’re being directed to pay a fee or apply anywhere other than the official FEMA website, you’re probably being scammed.

If you need FEMA California Wildfire Assistance, you can find the legitimate application on their website. There is no fee whatsoever to apply.

Source

• California Wildfires and Straight-line Winds, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2025.
• Rumors, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2025.

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