Hurricane Laura Recovery Resources

Lakeside Bank is committed to helping our community recover from Hurricane Laura and we have already taken steps to help our customers:

Hurricane Recovery Resources

Scam May Follow Storms – Protect Yourself

Devastating hurricanes unfortunately provide a opportunistic environment for fraud and scams. These criminals target those who are in vulnerable situations. They may also take advantage of charitable intentions, soliciting donations at a time when people are eager to help those in need.

Scammers use phone, text, mail, email, and even go door to door to target residents of affected areas following hurricanes.

Here are some tips to help prevent being a victim of disaster recovery fraud or a scam:

Disaster Assistance and Insurance

Officials with government disaster assistance agencies will never call or text asking for financial account information.

There is no fee required to apply for or get disaster assistance from FEMA or the Small Business Administration.

Phone scams often use spoofing techniques to falsify the information transmitted to your caller ID display to hide their identity or make the call appear to be official. Never reveal any personal information unless you've confirmed you're dealing with a legitimate official.

Workers and agents who knock on doors of residences are required to carry official identification and show it upon request, and they may not ask for or accept money.

If you get a phone call about an insurance claim or policy, don't give out any personal information or agree to any payment until you can independently verify that the call is legitimate.

Contractors and home improvement companies may call claiming to be partners with your insurance provider. Never give policy numbers, coverage details, or other personal information out to companies with whom you have not entered into a contract.

Disaster Relief Charity Scams

Donate to trusted, well-known charities. Beware of scammers who create fake charities during natural disasters. Always verify a charity's legitimacy through its official website.

Verify all phone numbers for charities. If you need to contact a charity by phone, check the charity's official website to see if the number you have is legitimate. If you're using text-to-donate, check with the charity to ensure the number is legitimate before donating.

If you receive a suspicious email requesting donations or other assistance, do not click on any links or open any attachments. Scammers regularly use email for phishing attacks and to spread malware.

Verify information in social media posts. Double-check any solicitation for charitable donations before you give.