SARASOTA, Fla. — Officials from Sarasota County have issued a warning to residents regarding scammers posing as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives. These individuals, some of whom are said to carry fake FEMA badges, are attempting to extract sensitive financial information from people affected by Hurricane Milton, which struck the area earlier this month.

Sandra Tapfumaneyi, the Emergency Management Chief of Sarasota County, cautioned residents during a Thursday briefing to refrain from sharing any personal banking details with anyone they do not know. She emphasized that such information should only be provided through FEMA’s official online platform. “Never provide your bank account details to someone knocking at your door,” Tapfumaneyi stressed. “Just because they’re claiming to be from FEMA does not mean they are legitimate. Avoid giving cash to anyone alleging to represent FEMA.”

For those who have concerns about the legitimacy of a person claiming to be with FEMA, Tapfumaneyi advised contacting local law enforcement authorities to verify the individual’s credentials.

Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota County as a powerful Category 3 storm, occurring just 14 days after Hurricane Helene impacted Florida and continued to sweep across the southeastern United States, including western North Carolina.

In related news, FEMA operations experienced a brief pause in North Carolina over the weekend due to safety concerns regarding militia threats against FEMA workers responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. According to a sheriff’s office, one individual was arrested in connection with these threats, but he was reported to have acted independently.