Beware of Social Media Scams & Fake AHFC Accounts

November 22, 2025 at 3:41pm in Community, Headlines, Renting, Homelessness
IStock 1284295699

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation is urging Alaskans, especially survivors of Typhoon Halong, to be alert for online scams falsely claiming to represent AHFC and offering disaster “grant money,” “special payouts,” or “housing funds.” 

Individuals posing as AHFC may be creating look-alike but fake assistance pages online, and/or contacting survivors directly and requesting personal information, fees, or bank details in exchange for monetary assistance.

AHFC does not use private messages on social media or third-party individuals to offer disaster relief or other emergency funds. All disaster assistance information and applications are handled through official government websites:

Visit AHFC's website at AlaskaHousingDisasterRelief.us for credible housing-related information for survivors.

“We know survivors are vulnerable during recovery, and scammers are taking advantage of that urgency,” says AHFC CEO/Executive Director Bryan Butcher. “Our communities are resilient but no one should face deception during a time of loss. AHFC is committed to working with state and federal agencies to assist survivors with temporary housing, honoring our partnerships with tribal and local leaders, and doing our part to ensure that every Alaskan has access to trustworthy recovery resources.

AHFC’s singular call-to-action since its engagement in the State of Alaska’s Western Alaska Housing Task Force has been to encourage survivors to sign up both for federal assistance with FEMA and the State’s Individual Assistance Program as soon as possible. More information is at AlaskaHousingDisasterRelief.us.”

Where to Get Legitimate Housing Assistance

Typhoon Halong survivors seeking disaster-related housing support should only use the following official resources:

How to Identify a Scam

Fraudulent accounts may:

  • Claim you were “selected” for disaster funds
  • Ask you to pay fees to receive benefits
  • Request bank, social security, or personal information
  • Link to unofficial websites or forms
  • Use stolen photos or logos to impersonate AHFC staff

If contacted, do not respond, click links, or share personal details.

Report Fraud

Suspicious messages or accounts claiming to represent AHFC can be reported directly by emailing newsdesk@ahfc.us.

Additional ways to report fraud or online scams