THE FTC SAYS: How to spot and avoid post-disaster scams in the Northeast

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/07/how-spot-and-avoid-post-disaster-scams-northeast?utm_source=govdelivery

Consumer Alert

How to spot and avoid post-disaster scams in the Northeast

Colleen Tressler

Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

July 28, 2023

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Recovering from flooding in the Northeast?

As recovery efforts continue in areas of the Northeast hit hard by devastating flooding, scammers aren’t far behind. Your tragedy is an opportunity for them, and they’ll try to take advantage. If one of the recent storms damaged your home, you might get offers to do things like help you clean up debris or get financial help. The offer might even seem to come from a government official. But how do you know what’s real?

The first thing to know is this: Walk away from anyone who demands personal information or money upfront. Here are some other ways to spot and avoid scams:

Know that FEMA doesn’t charge application fees. If someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, that’s a scam.
Be skeptical of anyone promising immediate clean-up and repairs. Those are dubious at best and a scam at worst. You’ll wind up with outrageously high price quotes, demands to pay up front, “help” without the necessary skills, and maybe even your money just vanishing.
Check contractors out. Before you pay, ask for their IDs, licenses, and proof of insurance. Don’t believe any promises that aren’t in writing.
Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or in cash. Scammers want you to pay that way because they get your money quickly and it’s almost impossible for you to get it back.And never make the final payment until the work is done and you’re satisfied.
Guard your personal information. Only scammers will say they’re a government official and then demand money or your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number.
Spot rental listing scams. If anyone asks for a security deposit or rent before you’ve met or signed a lease, steer clear.
Spot disaster-related charity scams. Scammers know how to seem like a real charity when they’re really just on the take. Before you give, check out how to donating while avoiding charity scams.

Suspect a scam? Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Find more on how to deal with and recover from disasters at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies.

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Founder/Chairman/CEO and CFO

Although, still having received many more “Awards, Honors, and Certificates of Recognition”, Nationally and Globally; MR. Reece has remained “humble & Thankful” that a “little Skinny Bullied kid from Texarkana could be blessed to have done things, never imagined by him or those who grew up with him, with still current things being done for the Betterment of Humanity.

Terry “the Warrior” Reece currently lives in Las Vegas, NV. with his Beautiful and Smart wife and keeps doing what God has for him to be doing! we “HONOR” WOMEN & MOMS, and MILITARY Females with our NEW, EXCITING “G.i.J.i.M.O.M.” Series: http://thesiborg.com/ http://familymediasite.com/ http://tdmcomics.com/ http://post-up.me/

Red Velvet Entertainment Jun 8, 2021, 7:59 PM (7 hours ago) to me, Robert, Chris Hi Terry, Thanks very much for reaching out! I was a Marine for 4 and an Army Ranger for another 5 years – much appreciated :) We are very happy to count on you as a supporter for both Morlon and our film – THANK YOU! Here is some stuff we would LOVE for you to share below: ———————————————————- Blood Pageant, LLC and Red Velvet Entertainment, Inc are proud to share Blood Pageant’s upcoming June 18th and 29th release! This has been designed to appeal to as many movie fans out there as possible while still in the time of the pandemic – for those who are still comfortable being avid theatergoers, as well as those who feel better streaming the film from home. The official press release went out on May 13th and the theatrical trailer has been “leaked” on HorrorNews.net. https://horrornews.net/166435/horror-thriller-blood-pageant-set-for-summer-release-from-vision-films/ Blood Pageant will have a theatrical release in select theaters throughout America on June 18th and will be released on Amazon and other online platforms on June 29th! (It will be released at Walmart, Target, etc. on DVD this coming July 20th; with pre-sale orders already being taken at Target). We would appreciate any additional help YOU can provide in getting the word out! Below you will find a press release, trailer, and key art for the film. Feel free to use any of this material to post about Blood Pageant and its up-coming release and continue to post throughout the month of June. Please Share the links below & Follow Us! Facebook: @BloodPageantTheMovie Instagram: @BloodPageantMovie Twitter: @BloodPageant Official Website: www.bloodpageant.com IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7184122 Horror-Thriller ‘Blood Pageant’ Set For Summer Release From Vision Films

Terry, “the Warrior” Reece was born in Texarkana, Arkansas and raised in Texarkana, Texas. He attended Liberty-Eylau High School and Played and Starred in Basketball, although he earlier played Football and performed in Track & Field. Mr. Reece moved to Dallas Texas in 1979 and Worked his way upwards for a Well Know Automotive Service & Tire Company and worked at the South Oak Cliff, DALLAS, TEXAS; location for about 14 years, where he Built up a Positive Reputation of a “Tech Specialist”/”Master Technician/Working Service Manager/Licensed Texas State vehicle Inspector. “Forcibly-Retired” and “Discriminated Against” in Pay, and Company Recognition Listings and “Threatened, with a Dime-IN-A-Desk”, by arrogant/upper Management of that Automotive Company; MR. Reece had to utilize his $50,000 worth of his Mechanic’s tools and his 1976 Chevy PU Truck and began working as a Mobil Mechanic, then Built that to open his 1st Downtown Dallas Shop called “Jet Automotive” and very Soon, All of His Longtime Customer left that Former Major Automotive Company’s Locations and Followed Mr. Reece to his New Location on “Gould Street, in Dallas, near Downtown. (That Former Major Automotive place had to close its doors, about 10 Months later:’ Because it lost soo much Business and money; It is Still even today a Bank of America Branch Office). eventually Mr. Reece owned 4 Automotive Locations, around the Dallas, Texas Areas, including a “Former Partnership” on Duncanville Rd. with Former LA RADIERS Hall of Fame/All Pro receiver; #81= “Timmy” aka Tim Brown. Mr. Reece, quickly became one of the “Up-&-Coming” Dallas/Ft. Worth Areas; “Who’s-Who” and became Active Politically and Business and Community wise. MR. Reece served on the P & Z Board of Adjustment for the City of Lancaster, Texas and the City of Cedar Hill Texas and helped walk the streets of South Lancaster Rd. in Dallas to help with Informing Businesses of the “Coming of DART” the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority and D.A.R.T. Railway Systems, which you see today in Dallas (This was done for his State Senator, Royce West’s Open Meetings for the Communities, along the Proposed Routes of DART). MR. Reece became “Certified as a M.B.E.” and received some Contracts with The General Services Commissions Certifications for the Dallas County Schools, and others, and when Mr. Reece Opened a Courier/Delivery Company in 1996/1997 he Delivered, to The DFW International Airport Board, The City of Dallas, Texas, Companies like Frito Lay, Coke-Cola, too many Judges and Attorneys and other Corporations to name; All around the DFW Metro Areas. In 1993-1994/1995 Mr. Reece was “THE” Sub-Contracted Company that Helped “Automotive Technology Services, Inc.” receive the “Only Texas Department of Commerce; Smart Jobs Grant ever obtained by a Minority Company” and MR. Reece, acted as “the ACTING DIRECTOR of EDUCATION” where he wrote the “Curricula”, Recruited the Students; Women/& Men, Wrote the Student Handbook, Wrote the “Student Handbooks” and Sometimes “Taught and Trained the Students in “Ft. End a Suspensions & Alignments”, “Engine Performance & Emissions”, “Engine Repairs”, “Automotive AC & Heating” and “Automotive Electrical”; all of which MR. Reece held ASE National Automotive Certifications and even briefly taught the Same Subjects for ATI (Automotive Trades Institute) in Dallas.)…in 2001, after Dating his current wife (Julia) for over 2 1/2 years Long-Distance; Mr. Reece and Julia married and he relocated to Detroit, Michigan, where he lived pretty much “Incognito” and worked small Jobs and then Completely Revamped his Companies into what you find today as; ®Reece ENTERPRISES/©REECENETRICS™/®FAMILY MEDIA COMPANY™/©TDM Comics International; a small but slowly/Strategically growing group of Companies, Creating Comics, and Entertainment Products & “Brands” geared Towards the World Wide Diverse People, of many Cultures and Nations to “spread the love of Positive Images for peoples of All Colors, Worldwide!”… ®Reece ENTERPRISES/©REECENETRICS™/®FAMILY MEDIA COMPANY™/©TDM Comics International, utilizes Global “Strategic Partnering” and relationships and friendship building as the primary strategies for continually building the group of Companies and associated relationships. AS a 1996-1997 Graduate of “LEADERSHIP SOUTHWEST” in Southern Dallas County; MR. Terry “the Warrior” Reece was Trained in Global, Local, Community Economic Development and Political Policies and was “Groomed” to run for Public Office in Southern Dallas County and Graduated with an “Official State of Texas Gold-sealed Diploma of Completion, along with that 1996-1997 Graduating Class and Mr. Reece help Found and Served on two Not for Profit Organizations in Dallas; (the Friends of Red Bird Airport and “Positively Oak Cliff”). MR. Reece has Numerous “Copyrights & Potential Inventions” and also Served on the Texas R & B Music Association Board, during a period in 1996-2001. During the years of 1979—2001, Mr. Terry Reece, WAS INVOLVED on many formidable Communities improvements and currently modern day Dallas Areas major projects, including D.A.R.T., THE TRINITY RIVER AUTHORITY PROJECT PLANNING, THE 30-YEAR DALLAS PLAN, NAFTA, AND THE EMERGING OF “PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, IN THE DFWAREA. MR. REECE WAS ALSO VERY ACTIVE IN SEVERAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, INCLUDING THE DUNCANVILLE CHAMBER, THE LANCASTER CHAMBER, THE TRI-CITY CHAMBER, THE DALLAS CHAMBER, AND THE USA CHAMBER.
Although, still having received many more “Awards, Honors, and Certificates of Recognition”, Nationally and Globally; MR. Reece has remained “humble & Thankful” that a “little Skinny Bullied kid from Texarkana could be blessed to have done things, never imagined by him or those who grew up with him, with still current things being done for the Betterment of Humanity.
Terry “the Warrior” Reece, ALSO A SELF-PUBLISHED WRITER/CREATOR/AUTHOR OF TDM COMICS INTERNATIONBAL COMICS-NOVELS AND A SMALL MEDIA COMPANY, AND EVENTS AND MUSICAL CONCERTS PROMOTOR; currently lives in Las Vegas, NV. With his Beautiful and Smart wife and keeps doing what God has for him to be doing! We “HONOR” WOMEN & MOMS, and MILITARY Females with our NEW, EXCITING “G.i.J.i.M.O.M.” Series: http://thesiborg.com/ http://familymediasite.com/ http://tdmcomics.com/ http://post-up.me/
I am always seeking to work with a group of "Positive" People, within Our New Chosen Communities in Las Vegas, NV. And GLOBALLY.
Terry “the Warrior” Reece: VETERANS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COORDINATOR Home Office: Based in Las Vegas, Nevada
E-mail: warrior_75210@yahoo.com and/or reecewarriorlv@gmail.com
http://reeceenterprises.us http://familymediasite.com/ http://tdmcomics.com/ http://post-up.me/ https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VPV7NU
Recently served on the SOUTHERN NEVADA *ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, *THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND *THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
NVHBG/Nevada Hispanic Business Group: Past Advisory Board Director of Diversity and Inclusion & (Past Acting Director)
The Mayor's Committees for:
CITY OF LAS VEGAS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS FUTURISTIC COMMITTEE FOR Workforce Development
Iconic Las Vegas: Create iconic spaces for residents, visitors and businesses
®Reece ENTERPRISES/©REECENETRICS™/®FAMILY MEDIA COMPANY ™/©TDM
Comics International DBA FAMILY MEDIA COMPANY
Is registered as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise in the
Nevada Unified Certification Program
Under the Provisions of 49 CFR Part 26

1/ONE OF MY GREATEST AND HUMBLE HONORS, WAS TO SERVE ON PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S “HONORARY KITCHEN CABINET”!
Terry “the Warrior” Reece …

TERRY'S BIO