Closing the National Center for Disaster Fraud

# Justice Department Closes National Center for Disaster Fraud

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the closure of the National Center for Disaster Fraud effective March 31, 2026. Established in fall 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, the NCDF coordinated disaster fraud complaints from victims nationwide and processed over one million complaints during its 20-year operation, serving as a national hub for referrals to federal, state, and local law enforcement.

The Criminal Division determined the closure was warranted following a 2023 program review. Many original agency partners now operate their own dedicated fraud hotlines, and advances in data analysis provide federal investigators enhanced tools to identify and pursue fraud schemes across multiple districts. The closure will save the department over $600,000 annually.

The Justice Department stated it remains committed to investigating and prosecuting disaster fraud as a serious federal crime. Victims of disaster fraud are directed to report complaints to the appropriate law enforcement agency based on the fraud type, with reporting information available at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.