Scammers are targeting people who want to help Franklin County flood victims, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office warned Aug. 22.
The agency urged residents to "be on the lookout for scammers trying to take advantage of people who want to help" after last week's severe storms and flooding, according to an alert posted on X. The scams arrive by phone and text.
The sheriff's office posted a video demonstrating how the schemes work and what to do if you receive a suspicious contact. Residents who encounter potential scams can report them to the FCSO non-emergency line at 614-525-3333.
The warning comes as Franklin County continues to recover from storms that began Aug. 10-11, dumping 5 to 8 inches of rain across central and southeastern Ohio and sending rivers over their banks. Residual flooding near Interstate 70 in Franklin County was still visible Aug. 20 and more than 11 consecutive days of rain had fallen in the region as of Saturday.
As we reported Aug. 21, Hilliard residents are still documenting damage from the Aug. 11 storms.
Second fraud warning in days
The sheriff's alert is the second scam warning issued to Franklin County residents in less than a week. The Ohio Department of Aging on Aug. 18 cautioned older Ohioans about home repair scams, specifically people posing as contractors offering storm-damage services. That agency recommends residents ask for written information, verify contractor licenses and take at least a day to consider any offer before signing.
The sheriff's office alert focuses on a different angle: scammers exploiting people's desire to donate money or volunteer for storm relief, rather than targeting homeowners directly.
Recovery still underway
About 30 Team Rubicon disaster relief volunteers began muck-out and debris removal operations in Franklin County on Aug. 18, with work expected to continue through Aug. 31, according to the organization's deployment announcement. Franklin County's Social Vulnerability Index score of 0.65 places it among the worst 25% of Ohio counties, making residents particularly susceptible to both storm damage and fraud.
The American Red Cross operated shelters in Franklin and Perry counties earlier this month after the storms left some residents without homes. "There's still folks without shelter," Don Hawkins of the American Red Cross Central and Southern Ohio told NBC4 on Aug. 16. "There's still folks without a home, without the essentials they need."
Residents can also file consumer complaints with the Ohio Attorney General's office at 800-282-0515. Team Rubicon's operations are scheduled to wrap up Aug. 31.
