CHARLESTON, W.Va (WDTV) – The West Virginia Attorney General is warning of imposters who call to solicit donations to aid those affected by Hurricane Ian in Florida.
The governor of Florida is calling the damage brought by Ian historic, a weather event never before experienced by Floridians. Soon, money and relief items will begin to arrive to help affected residents.
With that, officials say scammers will be in full force preying on people’s giving hearts and taking advantage of the organizations that have been set up to provide relief to storm victims.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by this catastrophic weather,” Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said. “Many are expected to respond with generosity and kindness but unfortunately, there will be those who would take advantage of people’s willingness to give. I encourage those who wish to give to the relief effort to do so, but give wisely so that your generosity helps those in need.”
According to the FBI, charity/disaster fraud schemes seek donations that do little or no work—instead, the money goes to the fake charity’s creator. While these scams can happen at any time, they are especially prevalent after high-profile disasters.
The following are tips to keep in mind when giving to disaster relief organizations:
- Only give to established charities or groups whose work you know and trust.
- Never feel pressured to donate immediately.
- Be suspicious of charities that ask for donations in cash, gift…
