Wildfire Victims Hit by Identity Theft in FEMA Scam

I’ll never understand those who profit from other peoples’ misery. There are too many ambulance chasers, corrupt companies, and people who take advantage of the desperation or lack of clarity in people. There is one type of vulture that preys on victims of natural catastrophes. This is, for me, beyond the pale. This latest wave of vultures is targeting victims of California’s wildfires. Families that have lost everything are finding out they not only have lost their identity but also the money they need to rebuild their lives.

Los Angeles Times reports that a family who lost their home in the Palisades Fire now faces another type of trauma. Thieves stole their identity and filed a claim at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Stefan Zweig, Judy Zweig’s hubby, found out about the theft while he was registering for FEMA assistance on January 20. They had lost the house they lived in and raised their kids in for over 30 years.

He was told that someone else had registered for assistance using his identity, but with a different phone number and email address.

The couple was then forced to file a claim with the agency stating they were victims of identity theft.

We all know that this works, particularly with FEMA. It doesn’t. The address of Zweig was blocked until FEMA “resolved their case.” FEMA’s current state makes this the 12th time never. The Zweigs, and others, have no other options.

Judy, a dental hygiene specialist, took a full day off work to go back to the disaster center. She was disappointed to find out that their address had been “locked up” while FEMA resolved their case. It also meant that the Zweigs wouldn’t be able to access the needed assistance.

Los Angeles Times reports that this is part of a bigger problem. What makes it so easy for fraudsters? Online applications for FEMA help are available to victims. It’s not always easy to get help.

Judy Zweig stated that the FEMA officer who attempted to take her intake had reported five fraud cases. This is a major problem for FEMA, in part because people can sign up online and get benefits people like us desperately need.

Brandi Richards Thompson, spokesperson for FEMA, said that although statistics were not available on specific fraud cases at the agency’s disposal it is not unusual for fraud and cases of stolen identities to occur after a disaster. Brandi Richard Thompson did not have any information about whether fraud cases were more prevalent after the Los Angeles County fires than other disasters.

It’s reminiscent of the COVID fraud where California was left with $32 billion in debt and passed the money on to small businesses. Elected officials, leftist NGOs, and even some politicians are scolding Elon Musk and DOGE for having “our most sensitive information” when identity thieves only need to pay money and purchase names, birth dates, addresses, and social security numbers from the dark web. This is just another example of how anything the government gets involved in can be ripe with fraud and mismanagement.

Those who take advantage of victims and double violate them should be punished by both federal and state laws and, if convicted, placed in jail. Nathan Hochman, the Los Angeles County District attorney, seems to be serious about enforcing laws in their entirety. There is hope that these bad actors will be caught and prosecuted. FEMA and the Department of Justice have both been in hot water and are likely to become even messier when President Donald Trump, and hopefully (once confirmed), Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, and FBI Director nominee Kash Patel, clean up the mess. Anyone who has been a victim of this fraud would be wise to seek other resources and set up a crowdfunding account.