BBB warns of hurricane relief scammers as two epic storms cause devastation
Watch out for unsolicited calls, texts or emails asking for hurricane relief donations.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns these could be fake as con artists capitalize on the devastation and suffering to rip-off generous people.
“If you are looking to support charities involved in Hurricane Milton and Helene relief efforts, you should donate to well-established disaster relief organizations that are actively working in the affected regions,” says Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO.
The Red Cross, Salvation Army, World Vision and many other BBB Accredited Charities are engaged in activities to assist hurricane relief efforts. For more advice on giving to charities helping those in need in this emergency situation, visit the Wise Giving Alliance.
“It is vital that your money not go to a scammer,” Bernas said. “Be very careful of impostor charities. Fraudsters will devise fake websites that look very appealing to capture your address, financial info and credit card number. The risk of money loss and identity theft is especially high in this situation.”
Scam attempts will be occurring for the next several months as people recover and rebuild.
For those seeking to help those in need by making charitable contributions, BBB offers the following advice:
• Find groups that can provide fast assistance. See if the disaster relief charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas. Unless they already have staff there, it may be difficult to provide quick assistance. Check if their website describes how they can address immediate needs.
• Be cautious about in-kind assistance. Donating clothing, food or other in-kind donations may not be the best way to help unless the charity has the ability to properly distribute such aid. Ask about their transportation and distribution plans.
• Impacted families will seek shelter and immediate needs. Many individuals in flooded areas will seek safety in shelters and need access to food and water. Charities focused on such activities serve a vital role in helping communities address natural disasters.
• Consider crowdfunding requests. If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust. Also review the platform’s policies and procedures, keeping in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take significant measures to vet posts, others don’t.
• Verify the charity’s trustworthiness. Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. We recommend giving to charities that meet all 20 of the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability found at Give.org.
If you've encountered a scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Sign up for BBB’s free consumer newsletter, BBB Edge, at BBB.org/ChicagoBuzz. Visit BBB.org or follow us @ChicagoBBB on social media.