Florida was hit first by Hurricane Milton, and scammers could be next

Thousands of Floridians are rebuilding their communities after Hurricane Milton made landfall as a deadly Category 3 storm this week and cut through the state, bringing destructive storm surge to parts of Florida’s western shore and deadly tornadoes to the east while killing at least 16 people. The state is anticipating more casualties, Gov. Ron DeSantis has said.

Thousands of Floridians are rebuilding their communities after Hurricane Milton made landfall as a deadly Category 3 storm this week and cut through the state, bringing destructive storm surge to parts of Florida’s western shore and deadly tornadoes to the east while killing at least 17 people. The state is anticipating more casualties, Gov. Ron DeSantis has said. An unfortunate reality victims could face while contending with property damage, insurance claims and disaster relief funds: scammers moving in as the massive storm moves out. “People are vulnerable right now,” said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis following the storm. “They don’t have power; they don’t have access to internet, and they are making decisions based on poor information.” Fraudsters deploy countless methods in the immediate aftermath of a life-altering storm, according to Melanie McGovern, a spokesperson for the Better Business Bureau. Whether it’s someone pretending to be an official for FEMA, or an unsolicited contractor showing up on your lawn to help you repair your home, McGovern says it’s vital to stay vigilant. “If the company you’re dealing with is a little invasive, if they’re not answering your questions, if they’re demanding the money up front, if there’s a pressure to act right away, that’s when you should take a step back and say, ‘I’m going to try to find somebody else,’” McGovern said.