As Texas reels from deadly floods claiming over 100 lives, ruthless scammers are preying on grieving families by falsely demanding ransom for children they do not have.
At a Glance
- Officials in Kerr County warn scammers are calling flood victims’ families, falsely claiming to hold their missing children and demanding ransom.
- The flood has killed at least 75 people in Kerr County, including 27 children, with more still missing from a summer camp tragedy.
- Fraudulent calls are overwhelming emergency hotlines, obstructing official search and rescue operations.
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vows to pursue scammers aggressively, while FEMA warns the public about disaster fraud.
Vultures Circle as Texas Families Suffer
Amid devastating floods that have claimed more than 100 lives, including dozens of children, opportunistic scammers are exploiting grief for profit. Desperate parents of missing campers at Camp Mystic are receiving chilling calls demanding ransom for children who aren’t there. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice described the situation as “heartbreaking” and condemned the predators targeting families during their darkest hour.
Watch a report: Scammers Target Families of Texas Flood Victims
A System Overwhelmed by Fraud
The fraud is more than just cruel — it’s hindering life-saving efforts. Fraudulent calls flood emergency hotlines, forcing staff to sift through false reports and divert precious resources from search operations. Rice explained the toll: “We’re dealing with mental health crises and baseless visions. Vetting every call exhausts our personnel and slows down critical work.”
A Promise of Justice and a Warning to the Public
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton promised swift justice, declaring, “Anyone engaging in these scams will face the full force of the law, and I will not rest until they are brought to justice.”
Meanwhile, FEMA warns survivors to watch for fraudsters posing as officials or contractors, reminding residents that no government agency charges for assistance. For donations, authorities recommend using trusted charity evaluators like the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance or Charity Navigator. The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has set up a verified Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to ensure aid reaches victims directly.
The flood’s devastation has created fertile ground for fraud — but law enforcement and communities are fighting back to protect survivors from this heartless scam.
