HURRICANE KATRINA FRAUD
Do You Pass the Test?
02/03/06
Talk
about generosity: it wasn't long after Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita hit the gulf coast last
fall that thousands of web sites began appearing
seeking donations for disaster victims and
relief efforts.
Unfortunately,
some of these websites were fake—designed
to steal your money, pure and simple.
Working
with a range of partners, the FBI has already
opened some 100 investigations into these
fraudulent sites...and we have dozens more
cases underway involving hurricane-related
fraud and corruption.
Many
cases have resulted in charges and convictions.
Three recent examples:
-
-
-
On
January 26, six
Portland, Oregon, residents were indicted
for passing themselves off as Katrina victims
to get government relief funds in a case
worked by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,
the Department of Homeland Security, and
the FBI.
|
|
|
