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Houstonians are no strangers to storms and natural disasters, but the added vulnerability that these leave behind can create the perfect conditions for scammers to take advantage of those seeking aid.

Millions of Houston-area residents are experiencing loss after Hurricane Beryl dumped nearly a foot of water in some areas, and knocked down trees, power lines and buildings with winds that reached speeds of 90 miles per hour.

As residents survey the damage and start to seek aid, officials urge caution when approaching or being approached by contractors or those claiming to be gathering information for state or federal aid purposes.

On Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a disaster declaration was approved by President Joe Biden, which will allow affected residents to apply for federal disaster aid.

Now more than ever, it is important to keep a close eye for official news from city and county officials before giving your information away for any form of aid.

Scammers have become more creative and convincing, especially after emergency situations. Scams can come in several forms, such as text messages, emails, phone calls, or simply a person knocking at your door offering disaster-recovery services.

Here are some tips on how to identify and avoid scammers based on consumer advice by the Federal Trade Commission:

How to avoid phone scams

  • Scam calls will try to instill fear by using threatening language or offering services that you have to act on immediately.   
  • Do not give out personal information over the phone. Government agencies will not call you out of the blue to verify your personal information, such as social security numbers, dates of birth, credit card information or bank account numbers. 
  • Don’t trust your caller ID. Scammers are able to make a call appear legitimate by spoofing any person or agency they want to impersonate.
  • If you suspect a scam from a caller who claims to be with a government agency, hang up and call the agency directly. 
  • Consider blocking or labeling suspicious phone numbers to avoid falling for a scam later. 

How to identify text and email scams

  • Scams also come in the form of  text messages or an email. These might come from unknown senders  asking for personal information or asking you to click on a link or asking you to download a document.  
  • Do not engage with an email or text message from an unknown sender. Government agencies will not ask you for personal information via email or text. 
  • Do not click on any links or download any attachments shared by unknown senders. These could be used to steal information, such as usernames and passwords, or could install malware on your phone or computer.
  • Pay close attention to email addresses as scammers might use addresses that appear official but are off by one or more letters, numbers or do not end in .gov, like those sent by government agencies.
  • Most email servers allow you to report spam and block a sender. You can also block a number from sending text messages on your phone. 

How to hire a contractor

  • Make sure the contractor is licensed and insured. No amount of discounts or urgency should deter you from making sure the work that the contractor will perform is fully licensed and protected. 
  • Scammers will pressure you by rushing you to sign a contract fast or offer steep discounts. They might also insist you sign a blank contract or one that lacks important information. 
  • Get several quotes to avoid price gouging. It is illegal for a company to sell goods or services at higher rates due to a natural disaster. You can file a price gouging complaint in Harris County here or email [email protected].
  • Do not pay upfront. Scammers will ask for cash upfront or any insurance checks to be signed over to them in order to start the repairs.  
  • Be on the lookout for contractors who require payment by wire transfer services – such as Western Union or MoneyGram – online apps or gift cards. 
  • Know your insurance coverage and deal with your insurance company directly. Don’t rely on the contractor to gather insurance information or to make a claim. 
  • Always ask for a timeline of the services or repairs and be skeptical of contractors that promise immediate relief. 

How to spot in-person scams

  • Scammers can come knocking at your door pretending to be part of local, state or federal agencies. Ask to see an official identification card and write down their information. 
  • Do not give out any personal information without verifying they are indeed representing a federal or state agency. 
  • Be on the lookout for those who claim they can help you qualify for aid for a fee. No government agency charges for these services or can promise qualification.You do not have to pay for this type of service. Do not agree to any form of payment.
  • When in doubt, call the agency directly to corroborate they have boots on the ground in your area. 

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Danya Pérez is a diverse communities reporter for the Abdelraoufsinno. She returned to Houston after leaving two years ago to work for the San Antonio Express-News, where she reported on K-12 and higher...