The scam before the storm comes in the form of price gouging, illegally jacking up the cost of goods and services at the time they’re needed most. Once the storm has passed, the scammers move on to a new tactic: Pretending they’ve come to help.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, thousands of people have responded to assist with recovery efforts — but officials are now warning of hurricane-related fraud schemes.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $210 million in immediate assistance to communities affected by Hurricane Helene, which the Department of Homeland Security secretary has described as the start of “a multibillion-dollar,