Arkansans have seen the horrible photos and videos showing the devastation in Texas caused by Hurricane Harvey. Although many wish to give aid, the Arkansas Attorney General’s office cautions that donors should be careful as there are reports of unscrupulous “charities” targeting Arkansans.
Scammers provide as little information as possible about their “organization,” while still trying to convince potential donors about the legitimacy of the “charity” that will help those who have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
“Many of these fake organizations will pick a name and logo that is similar to an existing, legitimate organization that is helping those in need in Texas,” said Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “Arkansans must stay diligent, do their research on charities, and know how their money will be used.”
Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips to help consumers give to only legitimate charities:
-High-pressure sales tactics during phone solicitations are a red flag that one may be dealing with an unscrupulous charity.
-Before donating, research the organization’s name, address, website, and phone number, or give directly to a known nonprofit. Make sure the nonprofit organization is registered with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.
-Use GuideStar.org to compare nonprofit organizations, and to get more information.
-Ask the organization how it will spend the donation.
-Watch out for similar but different organization names as some con artists will use names like those of existing, reputable nonprofits in order to trick consumers.
-Do not give out financial or personal information over the phone, or through email, to an unknown entity. This information could fall into the wrong hands, or the scammers could use it to steal one’s money or identity.
-Never send cash. Make check or credit card payments for increased security and tax purposes.
-Verify the organization’s number before donating through a text message.
-Be wary of charities that pop up quickly in response to Hurricane Harvey. Even if they are legitimate, they oftentimes do not have a system in place to get donations to those in need. Consider giving to an established organization which helps disaster victims in the area.
For more information, and tips to avoid scams and other consumer-related issues, contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s office at (800) 482-8982 or consumer@arkansasag.gov, or visit ArkansasAG.gov, or facebook.com/AGLeslieRutledge.