Scammers using robo-calls about insurance to fleece Hurricane Harvey survivors

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Washington Post

https://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.485382.1504194336!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_900/image.jpg

By JOEL ACHENBACH | The Washington Post | Published: August 31, 2017

Amid the many feel-good stories about strangers helping strangers in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, a feel-bad story has almost inevitably surfaced: Scammers are using robo-calls to try to fleece storm survivors.

The robo-calls tell people that their premiums are past due and they must send money immediately or else have their flood insurance canceled.

"That is pure fraud. You should only be taking information from trusted sources," said Roy E. Wright, director of the National Flood Insurance Program at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Every natural disaster attracts unscrupulous contractors and outright con artists. They're like disaster parasites, looking to exploit the pain and confusion of a catastrophe for their own profit.


Read more: https://www.stripes.com/news/us/scammers-using-robo-calls-about-insurance-to-fleece-hurricane-harvey-survivors-1.485367#.Wag21ch97IU

[Archae]

1. The worst part is...

Even when these jerks are caught, and prosecuted, they get probation and they go right back to their con.

Guy in Milwaukee was just sentenced to jail for being on probation and stealing credit card numbers, he was on probation for doing that while claiming to be a cop.