Protect Yourself From Wildfire Scams
Published Jan. 16, 2025
Tens of thousands of people have already been impacted by the ongoing wildfires in California with many losing their homes or under evacuation orders. Americans all over the country are looking for ways to send their support. Unfortunately, scammers use situations like these to take advantage of the generosity of those wanting to help and the victims when they are at their most vulnerable.
Here Are Some Tips to Protect Yourself
What to Do if You’re a Victim
If you believe you have fallen for a scam or your information has been breached, follow these steps to protect yourself from further harm:
For more information and resources to help victims of wildfires, read Picking Up the Pieces After a Wildfire by the FTC.
Learn more about keeping your information secure at Kinecta’s Security Center.
Tens of thousands of people have already been impacted by the ongoing wildfires in California with many losing their homes or under evacuation orders. Americans all over the country are looking for ways to send their support. Unfortunately, scammers use situations like these to take advantage of the generosity of those wanting to help and the victims when they are at their most vulnerable.
Here Are Some Tips to Protect Yourself
- Always use caution when donating. Before giving to a charity, search the name of the foundation on Give.org to ensure it is legitimate. Crowdfunding sites, such as GoFundMe, are popular, but they aren’t immune to scammers. No legitimate charity will ask for your online banking credentials.
- Don’t give out personal information. Scammers often pose as legitimate charities and call, text or email people to solicit contributions. Don’t give out your card information over the phone and don’t click links sent to you — go directly to the charity’s website and call them directly.
- Know who you’re dealing with. Be vigilant with post-wildfire assistance. Scammers can pose as contractors, FEMA workers and insurance officials, asking for cash deposits or advance payments. Verify everyone’s credentials and know that FEMA doesn’t charge fees.
- Don’t rush into decisions. Be wary of anyone using high-pressure tactics such as limited-time deals, showing up or calling unexpectedly, or expediting your claim. These are red flags that you’re talking to a scammer — take your time and research before deciding.
What to Do if You’re a Victim
If you believe you have fallen for a scam or your information has been breached, follow these steps to protect yourself from further harm:
- Contact Kinecta immediately at 800.854.9846 to report the incident. A representative can assist you in taking the appropriate steps to protect your account.
- Report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- If your identity was stolen, file a report at identitytheft.gov.
- Periodically review your recent login activity in digital banking by navigating to your Profile under Tools and Settings.
- Start tracking your credit score and access your full credit report in digital banking. Regularly monitoring your report helps identify any ID theft quickly.
For more information and resources to help victims of wildfires, read Picking Up the Pieces After a Wildfire by the FTC.
Learn more about keeping your information secure at Kinecta’s Security Center.