Scams to Watch Out for Following the California Camp Fire

You might have heard many similar stories over the past few months following the California Camp Fire: A California woman was charged after she allegedly lied about the existence of a husband who was a “firefighter” so that she could raise money to go toward crews battling wildfires. The woman used a social media scam to swindle approximately $11,000 worth of cash and donations from people who stepped up and hoped that it would make life easier for those involved in California wildfires.

According to police, the woman posted to a Facebook page claiming that she was married to a firefighter who was allegedly fighting a wildfire in California. She posted pictures of herself allegedly with her “husband” so that she could ask for the donations. She suggested that people donate items such as air mattresses, baby wipes, and blankets. However, in time, a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Employee did some research after he said that he did not recognize her husband’s name, which is how they figured out that it was a scam.

After a wildfire, many people are at their most vulnerable. They have just lost everything including their homes, the lives of their loved ones, and suffered from horrific burn injuries and smoke inhalation. As a result, many individuals might find themselves in a difficult position when those who target these vulnerable parties attempt to take advantage of them. Today we want to take a closer look at how many people are scammed following wildfire events and how we can protect ourselves.

Email Scams Following the Camp Fire 

It’s not just on social media. No, recently, an advisory was issued referencing scams that have come about through our personal emails after the Camp Fire that raged through California. 88 people lost their lives and 153,000 acres were burned at the hands of the horrific Camp Fire, with many people wondering how they will recover after one of the most difficult times of their lives. One of the mentioned scams that has taken place is one where false executive officers ask their employees if they would like to chip in to buy gift cards. Here is an example of how the scam works:

• A person claims to be the CEO of a company and asks a recipient to buy four cards worth $500 on Google Play.
• The message tends to be full of grammatical mistakes, but the recipient might not always realize this. They reference the recent wildfires as a way to make the purchases.
• The “CEO” will ask to send gift assistance for victims of the wildfire but will not have intentions to do so.
• The scammer will steal the money put forth that does not actually go to help victims.

Unfortunately, online scams are far too common after natural disasters, when many parties are prepared to step forward and make a difference in the lives of those who have lost everything. As people who like to come together and make donations to those who need it most, we also sometimes suffer at the hands of those who like to take advantage of these vulnerable parties.

The scammers involved in these crimes will physically take the time to do their research so that they come across as realistically as possible. The suspect will find the name of a CEO in charge of a company, discover the email addresses of the firm’s workers, and then send phony emails out to those who they find. However, these scams are not incredibly complex, as many of the emails sent out are sent from those in different countries and contain grammatical errors that can be checked.

The Federal Trade Commission has found that these types of scams who target vulnerable parties are actually on the rise. Specifically citing the online gift card scams, upwards of $40 million in consumer losses in 2017 alone have been reported. This means that a few of these scams will make it through the filters.

Of course, there are many other ways that businesses and shady individuals will take advantage of those who have suffered the effects of a wildfire. It isn’t just the fake aid and charities that we have to watch out for, but also the price-gouging by businesses who want to take advantage of individuals in these areas and make it difficult for many people to afford their normal lives. American businesses are free to set prices for what they want. However, in California, there are laws that state that businesses are not permitted to intensely raise their prices following a wild fire. These are aspects that we must be hyper-aware of.

Protecting Yourself from Scams 

Before you give to a charity or follow a fundraiser on Facebook, here are some things that you must consider:

• Don’t engage in anything that involves using gift cards of wire transfers, as these are the ploys of scammers. Instead, it is safer to use a credit card or check, which is what a real fundraiser would ask for.
• If you are using a service like crowdfunding or GoFundMe to donate, you should rethink a way to help raise money, as sometimes the proceeds are kept by those who are looking to scam and keep money for themselves.
• You should always trust your caller ID if you have it. A scammer will make it look like the call is coming from an organization even if it isn’t.
• If somebody is pushing you intently to make a decision about donating or becomes angry when you say you don’t want to make a donation, this is a red flag.
• Ask questions to ensure that somebody is not dodging your questions, which can be another red flag.

For those who have just experienced the damaging effects of the California Camp Fire, you should always do what it takes to protect yourself and your assets from harm. After a wildfire, you might find that it is difficult to dictate who is trying to help and who is out to hurt you. At Brady Law Group, we are skilled in detecting these types of scams and offering legal help to those who need it most after one of the most challenging things that a family could experience. Our wildfire claim attorneys are here whether you have been injured or sustained the wrongful death of a loved one in California. Please contact us for more information at (866) 478-6483.