SAN DIEGO - Fraudulent "businessmen" often descend on victims of natural disastersand pick the money from their bones. In anticipation of such actions, the federal government has set up a hot line for victims of the Southern California fires to report scams or suspected scams from people whom they believe are trying to profit from the tragedy.
Scams can include offers of service from unlicensed contractors, offers to seek federal or state disaster relief for a free, or suggestions to submit fraudulent claims. The U.S. Attorney's Office here says the hot line number is 1-800-323-8603.
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