SWFL residents receiving unexpected damage claim letters

CAPE CORAL, Fla. Ronald Wendt has been receiving mysterious letters in the mail concerning Hurricane Irma damage claims.

But he never applied for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“It looks very official, comes from the Small Business Administration (SBA), and I was wondering what it was, so needless to say I opened it up,” Wendt said.

Anyone who has received a letter and didn’t apply for a loan might be a victim of identity theft, according to the SBA. While the letter is legitimate, criminals are using the victim’s personal information like name, phone number and social security number to request a loan.

MORE: How to report FEMA fraud after Hurricane Irma

Some of Wendt’s Cape Coral neighbors have received the same letter in the mail too.

“I just hate to see anybody get money that’s not entitled to them,” Wendt said.

To report fraud, call the FEMA fraud hotline at 1-800-323-8603 or the Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-767-0385.

MORE: FEMA Assistance Scam