Free FEMA emergency food kit, just pay shipping? It's a scam

Last checked October 31, 2026

The short answer

Yes, a text or ad offering a free FEMA emergency food kit if you just pay shipping is a scam. The FTC says surprise texts from "FEMA" are very likely scams, and FEMA says its workers never ask for or accept money. If you want a kit, build one yourself from the free list at Ready.gov.

Stocking up for an emergency is in the news, and scammers have noticed. The pitch is simple. A free 30-day food kit, sent by FEMA, and all you pay is a small shipping fee.

The text
FEMA NOTICE: Your household qualifies for a FREE 30-day emergency food kit. Supplies are limited. Pay only $9.95 shipping to claim today: [link]

That's an example of the kind of text or ad going around. The offer is small and helpful on purpose. It feels like a smart thing to do for your family.

How the scam works

The link opens a page made to look official. To "claim" the kit, you type in your card number for shipping. The FTC says scammers pose as FEMA to get money or personal details, and FEMA says no FEMA, federal, or state workers will ask for or accept money.

Some of these offers work like a "free trial." The FTC warns that "just pay shipping" deals can hide terms that sign you up for more charges, often every month, until you notice and cancel.

The red flags

FEMA reached out to you first. The FTC says unexpected calls or texts from "FEMA" are very likely a scam, especially if you never applied for disaster help.
It wants your card for shipping. FEMA workers never ask for or accept money.
"Supplies are limited" or "claim today." A deadline is there to rush you.
The link isn't fema.gov or ready.gov. Scam pages use names that look close but aren't the real thing.

What to do

Don't tap the link or reply. Delete the text, or close the ad.
Check with FEMA yourself. Type fema.gov into your browser instead of using any link or number in the message.
Report it. Forward a scam text to 7726 (SPAM), and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Build your own kit from the free list at Ready.gov. It costs nothing to read.

What a real basic kit needs

FEMA says to be ready to manage on your own for at least 72 hours, and possibly up to two weeks. Here is a short version of the Ready.gov list:

Water: one gallon per person per day.
Food: a supply that doesn't spoil, plus a manual can opener.
A battery or hand-crank radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries.
A first aid kit and any medicines you take.
A phone charger and a backup battery.
A whistle, a dust mask, and copies of important papers.

Start with what you already have at home. You can add one item each time you shop. The full list is at Ready.gov/kit.

Already paid or entered your card?

Call your card company now using the number on the back of your card. Ask them to stop the charge, block future charges from that seller, and send a new card.
Watch your statements for the next few months. The FTC says to dispute charges you didn't agree to as soon as you spot them.
Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Make a kit together

This one is a good excuse for a visit. Sit down with a parent or grandparent, pull up the list at Ready.gov, and check off what's already in the pantry. And share one rule: FEMA doesn't sell kits by text. If a message says it does, delete it.

Lock down your accounts

These go beyond any one scam. Do them once and most scams get much harder.

Turn on two-step sign-in for your email and bank. A passkey or security key is safest; a code by text is better than nothing.
Use a different password for every account. A password manager remembers them for you, or write them in a notebook kept locked in a safe.
Freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. It's free, and it stops new accounts being opened in your name.
Ask your phone carrier for a number lock or transfer PIN, so no one can move your number to their phone.
Pick a family code word that's never been posted anywhere.

Questions people ask

Does FEMA give out free emergency food kits?

Not by surprise text. FEMA's free help for getting ready is a checklist at Ready.gov that you use to build your own kit. FEMA says its workers never ask for or accept money, so a message that wants your card number to "claim" a FEMA kit is a scam.

What's the harm in paying a few dollars for shipping?

The FTC warns that "free trial" offers where you only pay shipping can hide terms that sign you up for more charges, sometimes every month. You also hand your card number to someone you don't know.

How much food and water should I keep at home?

FEMA says to be ready to manage on your own for at least 72 hours, and possibly up to two weeks. Ready.gov suggests one gallon of water per person per day, plus food that doesn't spoil.

I already paid for a kit. What now?

Call your card company using the number on the back of your card. Ask them to stop the charge, block future charges from that seller, and send a new card. Then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.