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Am I Eligible for FEMA Relief? Here’s What You Need to Know Who Qualifies for Assistance? Federal disaster aid is available for residents and business owners in the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey. Not sure if you’re eligible? You can verify your eligibility and apply directly on FEMA’s website: DisasterAssistance.gov. What Assistance Does FEMA Offer? FEMA provides a range of relief programs aimed at helping individuals and businesses recover from disasters. Here’s a closer look at what you may be eligible to receive: 1. Housing Assistance This aid helps you secure safe shelter while your home is being repaired or rebuilt. FEMA can provide funds for: Rental Assistance: Financial support to rent a temporary residence if your home is uninhabitable due to disaster-related damage. Lodging Expense Reimbursement: If you had to stay in a hotel or motel, FEMA can reimburse you for these expenses. This is especially helpful if you were unable to find immediate rental options. Home Repair or Replacement: Grants are available to help repair or replace your home and address disaster-specific damages, such as water damage or mold. FEMA may also cover hazard mitigation measures that reduce the risk of future damage. Accessibility Needs: If you or someone in your household has a disability, FEMA can provide funds to make your home accessible. This might include ramps, grab bars, and other necessary modifications, even if these were not originally present before the disaster. Privately-Owned Roads, Bridges, and Docks: If the only access to your home has been damaged, FEMA can help cover repair costs for private infrastructure like roads and bridges. 2. Other Needs Assistance This program helps with essential expenses and serious needs beyond housing. Covered expenses include: Serious Needs: Grants to cover immediate necessities like food, water, first aid, prescriptions, and personal hygiene items, ensuring you have access to essentials during recovery. Displacement: If your home is uninhabitable, FEMA can help cover the cost of staying with family, friends, or in a hotel while you search for a more permanent solution. Personal Property: Financial assistance to repair or replace items essential to daily life, such as appliances, furniture, and work or school-related items like computers and tools. This can also include uniforms, books, and equipment needed for self-employment. Medical and Dental Expenses: If the disaster caused injury or damaged medical or dental equipment, FEMA can help cover the costs for treatment, equipment replacement, and prescribed medications. Funeral Costs: In the unfortunate event that the disaster resulted in a loss of life, FEMA offers support to cover funeral or reburial expenses. Child Care: For families facing increased child care costs due to the disaster, FEMA can provide funds to help cover these additional expenses. Assistance for Miscellaneous Items: Reimbursement for items like generators, dehumidifiers, and chainsaws that were purchased or rented to aid in the recovery process. Transportation: If your vehicle was damaged and you don’t have an alternative mode of transportation, FEMA may help cover the repair or replacement costs to ensure you have a way to get to work, school, or other essential places. Moving and Storage Expenses: FEMA can help with costs associated with moving and storing personal property, especially if it needs to be relocated temporarily during home repairs or if you need to move to a new residence. Each of these programs is designed to provide immediate and practical support, so you can focus on the well-being of your family and community as you rebuild after the disaster. How Do I Apply for FEMA Assistance? Applying for FEMA relief is straightforward. Here are the steps to get started: Apply Online: Visit DisasterAssistance.gov to apply for assistance. You can also download the FEMA App or call FEMA’s toll-free number at 1-800-621-3362. Register for an Account: If you’re applying online, you’ll need to create an account on Login.gov. This will allow you to save your application, upload documents, and check your status. Prepare Your Information: You’ll need details like your home and mailing address, Social Security number, insurance info, and bank details for direct deposit. Submit Your Application: Once you’ve completed the application, review it, make any necessary changes, and submit it. Be sure to save your application ID as you’ll need it for future communication with FEMA. What Happens After You Apply? After applying, FEMA will review your application and may contact you for additional information or to schedule an inspection. You can always log into your account on DisasterAssistance.gov to check your application status and receive updates. If approved, FEMA will disburse funds via direct deposit or a mailed check, based on your preference. For more information or to begin the application process, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362, or use the FEMA App. Recovering from Disaster with FEMA’s Support If you’re affected by Hurricane Helene, you don’t have to face it alone. FEMA offers a range of programs designed to help you get back on your feet. Take advantage of these resources to help ease the journey to recovery. 5 min read

How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters Potential Scam Scenarios Scammers use a variety of tactics to exploit people during the aftermath of disasters. Here are some of the most common scams to watch out for: 1. Imposter Scams Scammers often pose as safety inspectors, government officials, or aid workers, claiming they are there to help. They may ask for sensitive information or upfront payments for services, such as inspections or applications, that are usually provided for free by legitimate organizations. 2. FEMA Impersonators One common scam involves individuals impersonating FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) representatives. They may offer to help you with your FEMA application but will charge an upfront fee, which is not a part of any legitimate FEMA process. FEMA does not charge for applications or assistance. 3. Home Improvement and Debris Removal Scams After a natural disaster, many people need repairs to their homes or businesses. Scammers may pose as contractors offering quick debris removal or repairs but will often demand large sums of money upfront or perform subpar work, leaving victims with little recourse. They may also disappear after taking payment, leaving your property in worse condition. Recognize the Signs of a Scam While scammers can be clever, there are warning signs that can help you spot fraudulent behavior. Keep an eye out for these red flags: No Licensing Required: Scammers may claim they don’t need a license to do the work, which is false. Legitimate contractors should always have a valid license and insurance. Pressure to Sign a Contract Immediately: Scammers often offer a “discount” or say they can only fit you in if you sign a contract on the spot. This tactic is meant to pressure you into making a decision without careful consideration. Signing Over Your Insurance Check: If a contractor asks you to sign over your insurance claim check, beware. This can leave you vulnerable if the work is incomplete or of poor quality. Full Payment Upfront: Asking for full payment before any work is completed is a big red flag. Reputable contractors typically ask for a partial deposit, with the balance due upon completion of the work. Unusual Payment Methods: If someone asks you to pay by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency, it’s likely a scam. These payment methods are difficult to trace and recover if the contractor disappears. Ways to Avoid a Scam Protecting yourself after a natural disaster requires both awareness and due diligence. Here are steps you can take to reduce the risk of being scammed: 1. Know that FEMA Doesn’t Charge Application Fees FEMA provides disaster assistance for free, and they never charge for processing your application. If someone asks for money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, it’s a scam. Always verify through FEMA’s official website or hotline to ensure you’re dealing with legitimate representatives. 2. Verify Your Insurance Coverage Don’t rely on a contractor to tell you what your insurance covers. Always contact your insurance company directly for details about your policy. Additionally, never sign over your insurance check to a contractor. You want to maintain control over how your funds are spent to ensure the work is completed properly. 3. Be Skeptical of Immediate Offers for Repairs or Clean-Up In the rush to clean up or make repairs, it can be tempting to accept the first offer that comes along. However, unlicensed contractors and scammers often show up in disaster-affected areas promising fast fixes. Be cautious of anyone who demands cash upfront or won’t provide copies of their license, insurance, or a written contract. If they refuse to give you any of these, walk away. 4. Get a Written Contract and Read it Carefully Contract requirements vary by state, but even if your state doesn’t mandate a written agreement, always request one. A contract should outline the scope of work, materials to be used, payment schedules, timelines, and any guarantees. This provides you with legal protection if the contractor fails to deliver on their promises. Take Action: Protect Yourself and Your Community As we work together to rebuild after disasters, staying informed is the best defense against scams. Share this information with friends, family, and neighbors so that everyone in your community is aware of these fraudulent schemes. If you suspect you’ve encountered a scam or have been the victim of fraud, report it to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or FEMA’s Disaster Fraud Hotline. Recovering from a natural disaster is hard enough without having to deal with the fallout from scammers. By recognizing the signs and taking the proper precautions, you can help ensure that your recovery is smooth, safe, and scam-free. Additional Resources: Hurricane Helene: Recovery Scams How to Avoid Imposter Scams How To Avoid Scams After Natural Disasters Picking Up the Pieces After a Disaster Stay safe, stay informed, and protect yourself from those who might try to take advantage during these challenging times. 5 min read

Money Mule Scams: How Criminals Convert Fraud into Profit What is a Money Mule? Money mules are individuals who unknowingly or knowingly assist criminals in laundering money, often by transferring illegally sourced funds between accounts or across borders. The source of the money comes from fraudulent scams or other illegal activities like drug trafficking. Criminals use their mule’s identity and layer the illegal transactions in an attempt to hide the illegal funds from law enforcement. Once properly hidden, the criminals are able to access their funds and cash out on their illegal activity. Common Money Mule Scams There are a number of ways that criminals will try to hide their money from law enforcement. Money mules are a form of money laundering, where criminals attempt to make their illegally sourced funds seem legitimate. Here are a few common ways people can unknowingly fall victim to money mule scams. 1- Deceptive Job Offers Money mule scammers will act as employers offering high-paying, remote positions. Common job titles could be payment processor, financial coordinator, or international fund liaison. While these job opportunities seem legitimate, their primary function is to receive and transfer illegal funds. The criminal will wire a large sum of funds to the mule, then instruct them to keep a percentage and transfer the remainder of the money to a different account or purchase a certain amount of cryptocurrency. The criminal hides behind their mule’s identity and is able to more easily access their funds. 2 – Romance Scams This type of mule scam exploits a victim’s emotions and trust. Scammers will find their victims on social media sites, dating sites or other online chat channels. They will deceive their victims with made up personas often using stolen photos and fake details. Over time, the scammer will attempt to build an emotional connection by sending affectionate messages or personal stories. Once they feel they have earned the victim’s trust, they will fabricate a story requiring financial assistance. These are oftentimes medical emergencies or travel issues that need quick funding into an account. Once the scammer has convinced their victim to oblige, they will continue to exploit their trust to launder their illegal funds. 3 – Lottery, Prize, and Investment Scams If something seems too good to be true – it probably is. These scams typically start via an unsolicited message or phone call informing you that you’ve won a prize. They instruct their victims to take a number of steps before they can claim their prize, and that is where the danger lies. These steps could include gathering your personal details, wiring a “prize tax” or fraudulent fee, accepting a large sum of money, and/or transferring a portion of the winning funds to another account. Similarly, investment scammers typically promise their mule victims “return” for their illegal money transfers – sometimes in the form of cryptocurrency or percentages of the money they wire. What are the Consequences? Large overdraft balances are most often the first consequence to the money mule. Once the criminal has access to their mule’s account, they typically push a large lump sum out of the account. This amount oftentimes will exceed the typical balance in the mule’s account, leaving them with a substantial negative balance to dig out from. Acting as a money mule is illegal, whether the crime is knowing or unknowingly committed. The punishment for these crimes include imprisonment and federal charges. Additionally, your identity and personal information could be stolen from the criminals involved in the money mule scheme. Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): The IC3 is run by the FBI and accepts online internet crime complaints from the victim at www.ic3.gov How to Protect Yourself As with most methods of protecting yourself against fraud – remain cautious whenever someone requests your personal information or banking information. Only share those details with people or organizations that you trust. If you receive a job offer from an online business, do your due diligence to confirm they are a legitimate company. Additionally, a legitimate employer will not ask you to form a company or open a new bank account on their behalf. Always be cautious if anyone asks you to wire or transfer money on their behalf. Be weary if something seems too good to be true, like you’ve won an unsolicited prize or been chosen to participate in a giveaway. Scammers act on urgency. If someone is pressuring you to do something that you’re uncomfortable with, walk away. If you or someone you know is afraid they are involved in a money mule scheme, it’s not too late to stop. Stop communicating with the person giving the directions. Tell your financial institution and consider changing accounts. Report suspicious communications or activity to law enforcement. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the Nation’s central hub for reporting cyber crime and run by the FBI. Visit www.ic3.gov for resources and more information about how to file a report. Maintain receipts, contact information and communications (emails, text messages, voicemails) so that information can be passed to law enforcement, if needed. 5 min read

Protecting Your Business from Counterfeit Currency Know Your Money The first step to fighting back against counterfeit currency is to know the ins and outs of what a legitimate bill looks like. Familiarize yourself with the security features of true U.S. currency so you know what to look out for. You can view examples of all denominations through the U.S. Currency Education Program website. Each note issued by the Federal Reserve includes unique security and design features that are periodically redesigned by the U.S. government to make them more difficult to counterfeit, so make sure you stay up-to-date on what’s new. Feel the Difference Embrace your tactile senses and take time to feel the quality of the cash you are being presented with. U.S. currency paper consists of 25% linen and 75% cotton with red and blue security fibers embedded throughout the paper that is not sold commercially, giving them a unique texture and feel. If you are presented with a bill that feels slick, there’s a good chance it was printed on lower-quality paper and has been counterfeited. In addition to the feel of the paper, genuine bills will have raised ink which adds to their unique feel. 4 min read

2024 Fraud Prevention Checklist Arm yourself with the knowledge to fight back against scammers with our 2024 fraud prevention checklist. Empowering you to be informed, cautious, and proactive in avoiding fraud. 7 min read

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