Natural disasters attract ‘scam artists and fraudsters.’ Here’s how to avoid them after Hurricane Beryl.

Houston Public Media, By Andrew Schneider, July 30, 2024

As Houston-area residents put their lives back together in the wake of Hurricane Beryl, many face financial problems that go deeper than cleaning up physical debris. Government reporter Andrew Schneider spoke with Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), on how people can guard themselves against becoming victims a second time.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was famously created after what one could argue was a man-made natural disaster, the financial crisis of 2008. What is its mission with respect to natural disasters?

We know that, when there’s a natural disaster, it isn’t just the physical damage that a person has to deal with. It’s also the financial catastrophe of dealing with your mortgage, credit card, student loan, or auto loan. The CFPB is there to watch over those lenders and financial companies to make sure they are not exploiting people.

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