CONSUMER ALERT: AG Moody Urges Floridians to Look Out for Charity Scams When Giving to Hurricane Relief Efforts

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Attorney General Ashley Moody today issued a Consumer Alert warning Floridians who wish to give funds to those affected by Helene and Milton. Helene struck the Big Bend region of the state last month, then traveled inland leaving catastrophic flooding in six states. Milton recently made landfall in Southwest Florida, causing massive power outages and flooding throughout a large portion of the state. Attorney General Moody is reminding anyone wishing to donate to relief efforts to be on guard against scammers who may exploit the disaster for personal gain.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, "Our state just suffered the one-two punch of two major hurricanes-Helene and Milton. Millions were affected by these disasters. In times of hardship, generous Floridians may desire to give to relief efforts, but this is when scammers can strike. Be cautious when deciding where to donate so that your money can go to the intended cause."

Tips to avoid charity scams in the wake of a disaster include the following:

• Check the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance at Give.org or Charity Navigator to determine whether a charity exists and if there are any complaints against an organization before donating;
• Research how a charity uses donations;
• Refrain from providing personal or financial information to unsolicited calls or emails on behalf of a charity; and
• Carefully review a charity's name before making a donation. Scammers may try to trick unwary donors with titles that resemble legitimate organizations.

For more tips related to charity scams, view Attorney General Moody's Scams at a Glance: Charity Scams resource by clicking here.

Floridians can report charity scams to the Florida Attorney General's Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.

For additional information about storm-related scams and recovery resources, view Scams at a Glance: After the Storm. To download the resource in English, click here. To download the Spanish version, click here.

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The Florida Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division issues Consumer Alerts to inform Floridians of emerging scams, new methods used to commit fraud, increased reports of common scams, or any other deceptive practice. Consumer Alerts are designed to notify Floridians about scams and available refunds in an effort to prevent financial losses or other harm caused by deceptive practices. Anyone encountering a scam should report the incident to the Florida Attorney General's Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com. To view recent Consumer Alerts and for other information about avoiding scams, visit MyFloridaLegal.com/ConsumerAlert.