NorCal Fires: FBI Leads Disaster Fraud Task Force

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — The FBI has established a task force to investigate fraud related to the relief and recovery efforts after the October wildfires in four Northern California counties. The disaster fraud task force is comprised of local, state and federal agencies in Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties. The agencies will share and disseminate information and collaborate to streamline investigations.

The task force will use intelligence obtained from previous disasters including hurricanes in Houston, Puerto Rico and Florida to identify trends in fraudulent activity that help prevent fraud in the counties impacted by the wildfires.

Members of the task force include the district attorney's offices in Napa and Sonoma counties, the Lake, Napa and Sonoma County sheriff's offices, Clearlake and Santa Rosa police departments, U.S. Attorney's Office,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Small Business Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, California Highway Patrol and Contractors State License Board.

Victims of fraud related to the fires should contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud at https://www.justice.gov, email disaster@leo.gov or call 866-720-5721.

By Bay City News Service

Image via FBI Facebook page