The Los Angeles Police Department has released a list of scams being actively used in response to the devastating wildfires that have devastated the city.
Police say the scam is exploiting people across Los Angeles, leaving thousands of people in dire straits.
According to the LAPD, scams to watch out for include:
False recruitment scam:
“If you are looking for a job related to fire recovery, be wary of job postings circulating on social media that claim to be from the government or reputable agencies,” LAPD says. “These offers are often fraudulent and are designed to steal your personal information. The job posting does not come from a legitimate source. We may ask you to submit personal information, including sensitive data.
Fake city, county, or federal employee:
“Do not trust anyone who approaches you without proper identification and claiming to be a representative of the city, county, or federal government,” LAPD says. “Government officials will never ask you to pay for a service on the spot or force you to make an immediate decision. You should contact the relevant agency directly using official contact information rather than details provided by the government official. Please check your eligibility.
Phone and text message scams:
“Beware of unsolicited calls asking for donations for fire recovery or claiming to help recover losses. Legitimate organizations will not cold call you for donations,” LAPD said. says. “Scammers may impersonate FEMA or insurance agents and request sensitive information such as social security numbers or bank account details. Always hang up and call back using verified contact details. Never click on text links or attachments, especially from unknown numbers offering “support.” ” or “recovery aid.” These are often phishing attacks aimed at stealing your information. If you receive a text that claims to be from a government agency or insurance company, do not respond and verify the content through official channels. ”
Unsolicited face-to-face solicitation:
“Be wary of anyone offering ‘free support’ such as repairs, insurance claims, or government assistance,” the Los Angeles Police Department says. “Always ask for identification and don’t make decisions on the spot. Contact the agency or organization they claim to represent directly before agreeing to anything.”
Gift card or payment fraud:
“Scammers may request payment for services or ‘government fees’ using gift cards, wire transfers, or virtual currency,” the LAPD said. “Legitimate institutions will never request payment in this manner. If someone requests payment in this unusual manner, please report the incident immediately.”
Unauthorized donations:
“Be careful when donating to firefighting efforts. Always check that the charity or organization has legitimacy, especially if they contact you directly,” LAPD says. “Before making a donation, use a trusted platform like Charity Navigator to verify the legitimacy of an organization.”
To make sure a charity or organization is legal, LAPD says you can contact the department by calling 877-275-5273.
Source link
