LEXINGTON, Ky. — While most people are generous by making donations in the aftermath of a disaster, it is also a time when scammers try to take advantage of that generosity. 

Many donors seek ways to help those in need as Kentucky and other states begin to recover from the damage caused by severe storms and multiple tornadoes. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends visiting give.org before contributing or sending a donation to verify if the charity they choose meets the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

“Instead of clicking on links that others may send in texts and social media, consider making a cash donation directly through the charity’s website,” according to the BBB. “In an emergency, this is likely the fastest way of sending help. In-kind donations of supplies may be well-intended, but can sometimes be difficult and costly to manage if the charity does not already have an established means to help distribute them to those in need.”

Crowdfunding campaigns are already in place. While some may be drawn to providing direct assistance to individuals, BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends the following:

• Give to people and organizations you know. It is safest to give to crowdfunding postings of people you know. If that is not possible, consider a posting managed by an established charitable organization that can be checked out.

• Not all crowdfunding sites operate alike. Some crowdfunding platforms do a better job of vetting postings and projects that appear on their site than others. Review the site’s description of its procedures. If they take precautions, they generally announce that fact loudly to help encourage giving.

• See if the posting describes how funds will be used. Vague descriptions of how the collected funds will be used should create caution. Thoughtful collections will take the added step of identifying and verifying needs before the money is raised.

• Don’t assume pictures represent an official connection to the person or family identified. Unfortunately, some crowdfunding postings may be using pictures of needy individuals without their permission. As a result, you can’t assume an official connection. Again, each site has different rules on what they allow.

• Your contribution may not be deductible as a charitable gift. Suppose a crowdfunding posting claims to be helping a specific named individual or family. In that case, donors in the U.S. generally cannot take a federal income tax deduction, even if the individual or family is in need.  

Visit www.bbb.org, or call 703-276-0100 for more information or further inquiries.

The FBI reports there has been a rise in charity scams since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and anticipates a further increase in the aftermath of disasters. 

“Charity fraud schemes seek donations for organizations that do little or no work – instead, the money goes to the fake charity’s creator,” according to fbi.gov. “While these scams can happen at any time, they are especially prevalent after high-profile disasters. Criminals often use tragedies to exploit you and others who want to help. Charity fraud scams can come to you in many forms, such as emails, social media posts, crowdfunding platforms, cold calls, etc. Always use caution and do your research when you're looking to donate to charitable causes.”

According to the FBI, after a natural disaster or other emergencies, unethical contractors and other scammers may commit insurance fraud, re-victimizing people whose homes or businesses have been damaged. Sometimes these fraudsters even pretend to be affiliated with the government when they are not. The FBI recommends doing ample research before hiring a contractor to do post-disaster repairs. 

The FBI suggests using the following tips to avoid scams:

• Give to established charities or groups whose work you know and trust.

• Be aware of organizations with copycat names or names similar to reputable organizations.

• Be wary of new organizations that claim to aid victims of recent high-profile disasters.

• Do your research. Use the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) resources to examine the track record.

• Give using a check or credit card. If a charity or organization asks you to donate through cash, gift card, virtual currency or wire transfer, it's probably a scam.

• Practice good cyber hygiene:

  • Don't click links or open email attachments from someone you don't know.

  • Manually type out links instead of clicking on them. 

  • Don't provide any personal information in response to an email, robocall or robotext.

  • Check the website's address – most legitimate charity organization websites use .org, not .com.

• After a natural disaster or other emergencies, carefully vet any contractors before hiring them to work on your home or business.

Victims of charity or disaster fraud or those with information about these types of schemes may contact your state consumer protection office or report it at tips.fbi.gov. Report online fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), file a complaint with the FTC or report suspected disaster-related fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF).

The FTC also suggests finding out if the charity or fundraiser is registered by checking the state’s charity regulator. 

“If the charity isn’t registered, consider donating elsewhere,” according to the FTC.

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers many tips to prevent disaster fraud. According to the AARP, since it was founded in 2005, the NCDF has fielded more than 95,000 complaints involving more than 100 events, including hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, explosions and chemical spills.

“Disaster frauds often prey directly on those struggling to recover from extreme weather,” according to the AARP’s fraud center. “Dubious contractors descend on affected communities, offering quick, cheap fixes for battered homes and businesses or rapid removal of debris, for payment upfront. Some of these ‘storm chasers’ are merely shady and overcharge for shoddy work – and since they lack local licensing, your homeowner’s insurance might not cover it. Others are outright scammers who take your money and run.”

Another “post-disaster” scam the AARP warns about is fraudsters claiming to work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or other government bodies contacting victims with promises of grants, building permits, or helping speed up insurance claims by paying a deposit or fee. 

“A genuine FEMA inspector will not ask for money or personal information,” according to the AARP. “Scammers may also pose as public insurance adjusters, charging high fees for doubtful damage assessments, or directing you to disreputable contractors with whom they’re in the league.

The AARP warns about bogus charities, which get busy pumping out calls, text, emails and social media posts soliciting donations for relief work. 

“After disasters, scammers snap up internet domains featuring words like ‘help’ and ‘relief,’” according to the AARP. “Other faux fundraisers imply a connection to well-known aid organizations, like the Red Cross or Oxfam. 

Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 or visit the agency’s Scam-Tracking Map to report scams.