Criminals and fraudsters are opportunists, preying on people when they’re at their most vulnerable. Communities in the throes of natural disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes provide a breeding ground for scams, stealing money from people in their hour of desperate need.

Here’s what to watch for and how to report suspicious activity.

• Don’t trust someone who asks for money to get aid for you. Federal agencies do not charge applicants a fee to apply for assistance. In most cases, Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) grants do NOT have to be paid back, unless you get duplicate benefits such as from your insurance or a grant from another source. (Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters can supplement aid from FEMA and do need to be paid back.)
• Treat every email like it’s from a thief. Don’t respond to unsolicited emails or texts and don’t click links in them. Look the information up via a separate source.
• Be especially wary of information and links in social media posts; verify first, then trust.
• Research nonprofit organizations before you contribute. Double-check the URL for their website to ensure it’s not a copycat.
• Use licensed contractors, verifying their reliability through trusted references. Insist on a contract that details and guarantees the work and the expected timeline.
• Don’t pay more than half of the cost of repairs in advance; paying for materials is reasonable, but a reputable business will not ask for full payment up front.
• Take extra care when you send money by payment app.
• A FEMA housing inspector will never ask for your nine-digit registration number; they already have it in the records. They do not need your bank information, as there is never a fee for inspection. FEMA inspectors do not climb on roofs or enter crawl spaces.

Report suspicious activity to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), established by the Justice Department after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to protect people from scams following disasters. The NCDF website has instructions on how to report activity including:

• Criminal conduct relating to natural and man-made disasters and other emergencies
• Hoarding or price gouging of medical and non-medical items
• Disaster fraud involving any federal program providing financial assistance to individuals, businesses, or government entities (federal, state, or local)