The three scams that follow every storm, and the one habit that stops them

After Lowell, insurers, lenders, contractors, and customers all send more email than usual, and criminals impersonate every one of them. The short answer: real agencies never charge to apply, and no payment change is real until you have confirmed it by phone on a number you already had.

8. Scams after a storm

*Last verified 2026-09-14*

• Kauaʻi Police (Sept 12): expect impersonators posing as police, agencies, relief groups, and charities. Verify first; never give passwords, financial details, Social Security numbers, or verification codes; never send money, gift cards, or crypto to an unsolicited contact; distrust links and QR codes. Report: 808-755-8516 (KPD).
• FEMA never charges for inspections or applications, inspectors carry a government badge, and they don't ask for bank details. Report fraud to StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov (FEMA) or 866-720-5721 (FEMA). SBA applications are only at sba.gov or 800-659-2955.
• "Updated payment details." Any email or text changing where you pay an insurer, contractor, landlord, or supplier, or asking for a fee before a claim pays, is fraud until confirmed by phone at a number you already had.
• Most Kauaʻi business email domains can be forged: in our own check on 2026-09-14, 113 of 124 fail basic sender protection, and the fix is four DNS records, done in an afternoon.