Residents warn of door-to-door disaster relief scam
A Mississippi resident reported on Facebook that a man riding a scooter wearing an orange reflective vest visited their home, spoke briefly with the resident’s spouse and left a generic business card reading “Disaster Relief.”
The resident said a search of the Better Business Bureau and the Mississippi Secretary of State website returned no record of the business. The post said the card contained very little contact information.
The post cautioned that not every door-to-door contact is criminal but urged residents to watch for common warning signs: generic business cards with no physical address or verifiable phone number, high-pressure sales tactics, requests for upfront payment and contractors offering services immediately after storms or disasters.
The post also offered steps to protect yourself: do not feel obligated to open the door to someone you do not know, ask for identification and local permits, verify businesses independently before agreeing to work and never provide personal or financial information at the door. It urged anyone who notices suspicious activity to contact E-911.
This community alert is intended to remind residents to exercise caution. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
