RALEIGH, N.C. -- Did you know the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a program to reimburse funeral expenses up to $9,000 dollars when someone dies of COVID-19? Now, some scammers are trying to take advantage of grieving families.

To prevent fraud, you have to apply over the phone, not online.

Veronica Verde, external affairs officer for FEMA Region 9, said applicants must prove that the loved one died after Jan. 20, 2020, with COVID-19 as the likely cause of death.

"You must provide a copy of the death certificate, proof of funeral expenses incurred, and proof of funeral assistance received from any other source," Verde outlined.

Any monies you received from sources such as a GoFundMe account will be deducted from the benefit amount. To qualify, the person must have died on American soil.

You will also have to give the Social Security number and date of birth for yourself and the person who died. For more information, go to FEMA's COVID funeral assistance website. To apply, call 844-684-6333.

FEMA reports scammers have been checking obituaries and cold-calling relatives of people who died of COVID, offering to complete the registration process for you.

Verde said if you are contacted out of the blue, hang up and call FEMA directly.

"FEMA will not contact you until you call or apply for assistance," Verde explained. "FEMA is not going to ask you to pay anything to get this benefit. So please do not give out any information about yourself or your loved ones or anyone who might contact you."

You can report a scammer to FEMA or to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

A recent scam using fake Indiana government email addresses is prompting a broader warning to Hoosiers.

The messages claimed to involve unpaid tolls and tricked some people into clicking on links where their personal information could be stolen. Investigators traced the emails to a former state contractor's account which should have been shut down.

Isak Nti Asare, executive director of the Indiana University Cyber Security Clinic, said the breach shows why Indiana must treat cyber defense as essential.

"Cyber security should always be a big thing for us," Nti Asare emphasized. "Not because we're reacting to news of incidents and attacks and vulnerabilities but rather just because understand that in order for us to thrive in the digital age as Hoosiers, we need cyber security."

He added it was not just a contractor mistake; it reflects the need for stronger systems and better planning statewide.

Nti Asare pointed out cyber threats happen constantly, not just when headlines appear. He urged people to stop and think before responding to messages that feel urgent or unusual.

"If somebody bumped into you in the street and said, 'Hey, give me your credit card details.' You would go, 'What?' You'd say, 'OK. Show me a badge. Do you have a warrant?'" Nti Asare explained. "We need to be as cautious as you would be in the physical realm, if not really much more, actually."

Indiana's attorney general urged people to report suspicious emails at IndianaConsumer.com. Experts recommended using multifactor login tools, freezing credit reports when needed and changing passwords regularly.


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Consumer rights advocates are celebrating five bills that passed the First Chamber deadline in Salem, moving closer to becoming law.

The bills are supported by the Consumer Alliance of Oregon, a coalition of 18 advocacy groups spanning housing, health care and other sectors. The bills mark the Alliance's first legislative push to protect Oregonians from predatory business practices.

Daysi Bedolla Sotelo, advocacy and policy strategist for the Oregon Health Equity Alliance, highlighted one bill which would rein in hospital facility fees and require transparent patient billing.

"Right now, you go and seek care and then you get home and get the bill and it's surprising that it could be up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in facility fees," Bedolla Sotelo explained.

Another bill would bring the state's insurance sector under Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act. The change would help guarantee insurance companies, including auto, health and housing, do not deny claims unfairly. Currently, insurance is the only major Oregon industry not subject to the law.

On a federal level, House Republicans are considering reducing the funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency responsible for shielding Americans from predatory lending practices and fraud.

Ethan Livermore, economic justice organizer for the nonprofit Neighborhood Partnerships, said Oregon lawmakers need to step up and fill in the gaps.

"With so much uncertainty at the federal level, I think Oregon legislators have a really amazing opportunity to make sure that Oregonians are protected," Livermore contended.

Other bills backed by the Alliance would shield Oregonians from medical debt harming their credit scores and guarantee fair rates when buying a car.

Bedolla Sotelo emphasized since everyone is a consumer, consumer protections should be a nonpartisan issue.

"It doesn't matter where you live, you are being affected by all of these issues," Bedolla Sotelo noted. "Oftentimes, we don't think about them until it happens to us."


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Tariffs are disrupting supply chains from China, making it harder for reusable alternatives to compete with single-use plastics.

Jeffrey Delkin, president of Bambu, an Oregon-based company which has been making plastic-free home goods for 20 years, said the Trump administration's 145% tariffs forced the company to lay off their staff in China and make their U.S. staff part-time. Though Chinese tariffs will now drop to 30% for 90 days, Delkin noted it is still a huge jump from the usual 3.5%.

He fears the tariff roller coaster threatens the company's future as well as the market for plastic alternatives.

"Unfortunately, this is a time where we need more small, right-minded, responsibly operated businesses," Delkin contended. "The current conditions are not helping."

Data show even before the trade war, plastic products faced much lower tariffs than their alternatives. This keeps plastic prices low and makes it harder for alternatives to compete. Delkin added since the oil industry receives large government subsidies, plastic producers are better able to absorb extra costs.

Research shows plastics contain harmful chemicals which leech into food, water and the environment. Emissions created during plastic production also contribute to climate change.

Delkin pointed out the public is still learning about the effects of microplastics on overall health, adding more than 90% of plastic produced ends up in landfills.

"It's that kind of stark reality that encouraged us to do what we do and to really promote renewable materials," Delkin explained.

The plastic market continues to grow despite its harmful effects. In 2020, about 370 million tons of plastic were traded, valued at $1.2 trillion.


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