Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Natural disasters tend to give way to a rise in scams, both online and over the phone. With that in mind, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is reminding people to be cautious when donating money to causes claiming to benefit those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Criminals often pose as non-profit organizations – but in reality, they have no intention of putting your money toward good causes.
"Anytime you see a natural disaster, you have storm chasers, and then you have the donations," said Barry Moore, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). "We want to help, but there's always those criminals out there, and they are criminals. I use that word very straightforwardly."
"Don't be fooled by these people, and don't fall prey to them, because they're going to take your money and you have no chance to get it back," Moore said.
Moore warns that these criminals go about taking your money in all sorts of ways. He said scammers commonly prey on your emotions.
The BBB says it’s important to make sure the organization you want to donate to is legitimate. You can do this through www.give.org. Avoid any company that is not accredited.
If you receive a phone call and the caller asks for your debit card or your bank’s ACH number, hang up immediately – because if they obtain access to your account, it’s not likely that you’ll get your money back.
If you think you might be a victim of a scam, or to look up an existing scam, visit www.bbb.org/scamtracker.
