Scammers often target people affected by natural disasters, as well as those looking to support recovery efforts
Criminals have been known to pose as tradies, bank staff, charity workers and government officials in these situations
There are methods you can use to check whether disaster support schemes, fundraising efforts and other forms of help are legitimate
The chaos and desperation following a natural disaster always brings out society’s best – people willing to pitch in and help those whose worlds have been turned upside down.
Unfortunately, these situations also bring out the worst – criminals who see a chance to steal, not just from people whose lives are already in disarray, but even from the fellow citizens coming to their aid.
The aftermath of previous storms, floods and fires in Australia revealed that scammers have particular schemes they’ll often deploy during these crises.
Scammers have particular schemes they’ll often deploy during these crises
Whether you find yourself directly impacted by a natural disaster or you’re just looking to support relief efforts, here are the common scams to look out for during and after fires, floods and storms.
Unregistered tradespeople promising quick clean-ups, inspections and repairs have been known to target areas hit by wild weather.
In NSW, the state’s Building Commission received almost 160 reports of unregistered trade work in the first half of this year.
Described by insurance companies as “disaster chasers”, fake tradies have been known to approach damaged properties, promising to do whatever work is required there and then – in return for a fee, of course.
Fake tradies have been known to approach damaged properties, promising to do whatever work is required – in return for a fee, of course
They’re known for deploying high-pressure and aggressive sales tactics to try to get you to agree.
Recent reports relay stories of these con artists also impersonating legitimate local businesses and responding to requests for help on social media.
Once they’ve secured payment (often by unusual methods like bank transfer or cheque), they may leave without providing any of the services they’ve promised.
If work is done, insurers say it’s often substandard and not covered by their guarantees, meaning property owners may have a hard time getting insurance in the future.
How to avoid shonky tradie scams
1. Beware of unexpected guests
Watch out for workers turning up to your property unannounced, claiming it has a problem and offering to fix it for you. Be especially sceptical if they claim to work for your insurance company. Major providers say they’ll never send assessors or workers to your property without arranging it with you first.
2. Try your rights
People going door to door selling services should be able to give you a written agreement on what will be provided. Unregistered tradies are unlikely to provide this, along with any clear quote for costs or even contact details. Beware of anyone trying to avoid giving you these assurances.
3. Verify visitors
Repair scammers sometimes claim to represent legitimate local businesses and to have successfully completed work on other homes nearby. Follow-up on these claims.
Call your insurer if you’re suspicious about a tradesperson who’s come to your home on their behalf. You can ask to see the worker’s credentials and check that they’re registered. Most states and territories have bodies with whom reputable tradespeople are recorded.
4. Confirm what’s going to be done
If you’re getting repairs, clarify what’s going to be done and check whether any subcontractors will be involved in the project.
Scammers can use technology to send SMS messages appearing to come from trusted sources.
Major banks and insurers often roll out support schemes for customers hit by natural disasters, letting them defer or reduce loan repayments, waive premiums or get access to savings more easily.
However, the fact that people are often waiting to hear from their financial institutions during these crises gives scammers a chance to breathe new life into an old trick.
Bank impersonators may demand payments or personal details in return for providing support services
The sense of urgency and stress these scams thrive on is often heightened in the aftermath of fires, floods and storms, and banks say impersonation scams can increase at these times.
Bank impersonators operating in the wake of a natural disaster may demand payments or personal details in return for providing the support services that banks usually offer at these times.
They may also see the chaos of a disaster as a chance to roll out their traditional method – claiming your money is at risk and urging you to move it to an account they control.
How to avoid finance impersonation scams
1. Watch out for sudden contact
Beware of unsolicited calls or messages from your bank or insurer urging you to take action or making unusual claims or requests.
2. Don’t share sensitive details
Businesses shouldn’t ask you to provide information like passwords, PINs or verification codes over the phone or by email or message. They also shouldn’t ask you to click on links, scan QR codes or download software.
3. Verify what you’re being told
Contact your institution using details you’ve found yourself to confirm any suspicious information or requests.
Scammers can weaponise the same technology they use to masquerade as banks and insurers in order to pass themselves off as representatives of government agencies or local councils.
These organisations are often the same ones co-ordinating services or providing vital support in the aftermath of destructive weather, making the potential fallout from these phishing schemes even greater.
Scammers will often claim to be contacting you on behalf of the agencies most commonly associated with financial payments and support, such as myGov and the Australian Tax Office (ATO).
The similarities these schemes share with bank impersonation scams mean they can be spotted in similar ways.
How to avoid government phishing scams
1. Watch out for sudden contact
Beware of unsolicited calls or messages from myGov or the ATO urging you to provide information or to repay fake debts.
2. Don’t share sensitive details
Neither myGov nor the ATO will ask you to provide sensitive information over the phone or in messages. They also won’t ask you to click on links, scan QR codes or download software.
3. Verify what you’re being told
Contact the government agency claiming to be talking to you using details you’ve found yourself to confirm any suspicious information or requests.
Fake fundraising pages have appeared on social media during bushfire crises. Image: ACCC
A lot of us feel inspired to donate our own time, money or possessions when we see others having their lives turned upside down by a natural disaster.
But scammers have been known to exploit these sentiments for their own gain.
The Black Summer bushfires of 2019–20 saw the ACCC shut down multiple fake online charities and fundraising pages on social media as scammers attempted to siphon off the significant influx in donations.
Floods have also provided fundraising scammers with an opportunity to ply their trade.
Last August, Western Australian authorities found scammers impersonating a reputable charity on Instagram and messaging people who’d already donated to a local flood relief effort.
Suspicions were raised when the messages asked good samaritans to provide follow-up support to flood victims by buying Amazon gift cards.
Payment via gift cards is a well-worn scammer technique, but not all fake charity schemes are so easily identified.
How to spot fundraising scams
1. Be sceptical of unexpected messages
A legitimate charity is unlikely to message you on social media. Beware of any organisations asking you to donate to relief efforts this way. Also be wary of unsolicited calls or emails making emotional pleas for donations.
Scammers can create fake sites mirroring those of established charities. Putting a charity’s name into a search engine and clicking on non-sponsored results is a good way to make sure you’re on the right page. For more tips on spotting phoney sites, see our guide to spotting a fake website.
Avoid any risk of clicking on fake links by finding a charity on the ACNC’s register and following the links from there to its website.
4. Check official sources
State and territory governments dealing with major natural disasters will often highlight official fundraising efforts on their websites and platforms.
Liam Kennedy is a Journalist with the Editorial and investigations team. He answers consumers' most burning questions, from which scams to be aware of and how to save money, to whether new services and products are worth using and how the latest developments in consumer news could affect them.
Prior to CHOICE, Liam worked in production in daily news radio and podcasting.
Liam has a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Technology Sydney.
Find Liam on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Liam Kennedy is a Journalist with the Editorial and investigations team. He answers consumers' most burning questions, from which scams to be aware of and how to save money, to whether new services and products are worth using and how the latest developments in consumer news could affect them.
Prior to CHOICE, Liam worked in production in daily news radio and podcasting.
Liam has a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Technology Sydney.
Find Liam on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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