Des Moines, IA – Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management has issued a warning to residents about a possible scam involving individuals posing as FEMA representatives. The alert specifically targets northwest Iowa, where reports have surfaced of people going door-to-door, falsely claiming to be from FEMA and offering to buy houses.
According to the Iowa Homeland Security, FEMA does not engage in such practices and is not currently involved in purchasing homes in the area. Additionally, the agency does not have approved contractors for home repairs, construction, or debris removal. These fraudulent activities are attempts to exploit disaster survivors.
Residents are urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. If someone approaches your home claiming to be from FEMA, it is important to verify their credentials. Official FEMA representatives will always carry identification and will not solicit personal information or payments door-to-door.
The Iowa Homeland Security advises that anyone who encounters these fraudulent activities should report them immediately to the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-223-0814 or email StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov. For more information on how to protect yourself from disaster-related scams, visit the FEMA website at fema.gov/disaster-fraud.
