US Attorney Issues Warning on Charity Scams in Wake of Hurricane Helene

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s destructive path through the Big Bend Region of Florida and neighboring states, US Attorney Leigha Simonton has raised the alarm about potential charity scams. The hurricane, which landed on Sept. 26, left a trail of devastation across multiple states, including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Amidst the ongoing relief efforts, Simonton warned the public to stay alert to fraudulent schemes attempting to take advantage of the situation.

“We’ve all been impacted by the devastating images of Helene’s aftermath and are looking for ways to help,” Simonton remarked, as the US Department of Justice cited. Her message underscores that while the community’s generosity is commendable, caution should not be tossed to the wind. The unscrupulous, acting through emails, social media, or even door-to-door, might exploit this surge of goodwill for their gain.

Simonton offered guidelines for safe donations to aid constituents in discerning legitimate charities from deceitful entities. Contributors should direct gifts to known organizations rather than through intermediaries, resist high-pressure tactics, and ignore unsolicited communications that may harbor scams or malware. In her guidance, she emphasizes that reputable charities typically employ .org domains and adhere to transparent financial practices, avoiding cash transactions and utilizing secure payment methods instead.

According to Simonton’s statement, the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) stands ready to field reports of fraudulent activities related to disaster relief efforts. Since Hurricane Katrina, the NCDF has collaborated with over 50 agencies at various levels to combat exploitation in times of need. Concerned citizens can report suspicious behavior to the NCDF’s 24/7 hotline at (866) 720-5721 or through their website.