JONESBORO — Picking up the pieces after a disaster is hard enough without being the target of a scammer preying on vulnerable people trying to recover.
Matt Wernz, the regional director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Southwest Region, said in email on Thursday that the Federal Trade Commission wanted to warn residents about post-disaster scams and provide some information relating to scams so the public can protect themselves.
Craighead County Judge Marvin Day said Thursday that during the 2020 Jonesboro tornado disaster there were issues with out-of-town contractors.
“Some contractors were legit and others were not,” Day said, “so we put procedures in place to help prevent this.”
Mark Young, president and CEO of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, said on Thursday that scammers had been an issue a year and a half ago during Jonesboro’s tornado but they quickly found ways to help prevent scammers from taking advantage of residents.
“People need to be cautious and ask questions,” Young said. “It is sad but it does happen.”
Young added that he had spoken with Trumann Chamber Director Bob Sowell and knows they are already taking precautions, too.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said on Thursday that he wasn’t aware of any of scammers yet but if anyone feels they are being scammed, they should call the attorney general…
