New York Attorney General Letitia James has issued a reminder to residents to exercise caution when donating to charitable organizations in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The warning comes amid concerns about fraudulent charities exploiting the disaster to deceive donors.
“In the wake of terrible humanitarian crises such as the hurricanes in the Southeastern United States, scammers often take advantage of generous acts in exchange for personal gain,” said Attorney General James. “As New Yorkers seek to provide aid to victims of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, I urge them to be cautious of sham charities and make sure that they are giving to trustworthy organizations and groups. We will continue to do all we can to support victims of these terrible tragedies and I encourage anyone who experiences any issues to reach out to my office.”
To protect against scams, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) suggests several guidelines for those looking to donate:
1. Verify Email Solicitations: Confirm the authenticity of emails soliciting donations by contacting the charity directly or visiting its official website.
2. Scrutinize Social Media Fundraisers: Research fundraising organizers on social media or other platforms before donating. Only contribute if you know the organizer personally and have verified their legitimacy.
3. Check Charity Credentials: Donate only to well-known charities and verify their credentials through resources like OAG’s Charities Bureau website or directly from the charity.
4. Understand Donation Usage: Clarify how donations will be used, including which services or individuals will benefit from your contribution.
5. Evaluate New Organizations: Be cautious with newly formed organizations after disasters; while many have good intentions, some may lack experience or could be scams.
6. Text Donations: Confirm with charities that they accept text message contributions before donating via this method.
7. Avoid Cash Donations: Use checks made payable directly to organizations or donate through their official websites.
8. Protect Personal Information: Ensure you are familiar with an organization before providing credit card or personal information over phone, text, or internet.
Residents who suspect fraudulent activities are encouraged to report them to the Charities Bureau or call 212-416-8401 for assistance.