Many charitable organizations are asking for assistance to help those who have been affected by Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey. But the US Department of Justice is warning everyone that scammers may take advantage of the tragedy to take advantage of you.
The National Center for Disaster Fraud, created in the wake of similar events in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, is reminding the public to be aware and report of any instances of alleged fraudulent activity concerning relief operations and funding for disaster victims. Scammers may try to exploit the recent events in Texas and Louisiana in an effort to cheat you out of your money. They may use phone calls, phony websites, emails, door-to-door visits or social media posts to raise funds for relief operations, but the money these scammers raise could actually just go to their own pockets.
The National Center for Disaster Fraud reminds everyone to do their due diligence before considering making a donation to anyone who solicits donations or individuals offering to provide assistance to those affected by the hurricanes. If the message is an unsolicited private message, like an email, it’s more than likely spam and pictures and links in those emails could contain computer viruses. Also many scammers may use names very similar to reputable charities to confuse you. They also ask that you contribute directly to the charity, and avoid using cash, gift cards or money transfers for your donation. Use credit cards or checks made out to the organization to donate. Also be careful about giving out your personal and financial information, as giving that out could open you up to identity theft.
If you feel you’ve been scammed, you are asked to call the National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling 1-866-720-5721 or by emailing them at disaster@leo.gov
