The FBI issued a public service announcement warning individuals affected by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County and the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans to be cautious of scammers taking advantage of these situations. The announcement highlighted that scammers often exploit mass casualty events and disasters to carry out fraudulent activities.
One common tactic used by fraudsters is to solicit fake charitable donations both online and in-person. They may also impersonate celebrities, influencers, or government officials on social media platforms to deceive unsuspecting victims. Additionally, the FBI mentioned that scammers sometimes utilize artificial intelligence in their schemes.
The FBI emphasized that scammers might pose as disaster relief agencies to gather personal information, engage in charitable fraud schemes, or defraud disaster assistance programs. In 2024, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 4,500 complaints, reporting losses of approximately $96 million due to fraudulent charities, crowdfunding accounts, and disaster relief campaigns.
