Robert Sanchez got quite a shock recently when went to the Federal Emergency Management Agency website to submit his information for assistance after Hurricane Irma.
Someone had apparently beat him to the punch and now Sanchez is in a holding pattern while FEMA works through the situation.
“I’m stuck and I don’t know who did it, how much and can we stop it,” he said.
For someone to submit an application in his name, they would have to have his address and/or Social Security number.
FEMA spokesman Peter Sessum said that fraudulent relief applications are exceedingly rare because an inspector has to come to the home in question to verify ownership and occupancy.
Of the more than 2.3 million applications submitted in Florida, less than a dozen have been flagged as fraudulent, Sessum said.
An application being flagged as a duplicate doesn’t necessarily mean fraud is involved, either, he said.
“Sometimes what may happen is someone accidentally kicked the numbers on their Social (Security number), or has a similar name but close Social,” Sessum said.
Sanchez wasn’t reassured by that, though.
“I don’t know what they did and what the amount is,” he said. “All I know is it could come back and bite me.”
Cox Media Group
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