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In the aftermath and devastation that Hurricane Helene left and now Hurricane Milton, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas is warning people of possible scams.
U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton issued a public safety warning, urging the public to stay alert for hurricane relief fraud following Hurricane Helene.
“North Texans are some of the most generous people I know,” said Simonton, who is the Northern District of Texas’ chief federal law enforcement officer.
“We’ve all been impacted by the devastating images of Helene’s aftermath and are looking for ways to help. The best way to ensure your donations make a difference is to route them through a legitimate charity. Please, be vigilant for scams. Unfortunately, some fraudsters will stop at nothing to make a quick buck – even if it means exploiting a natural disaster and preventing funds from reaching the actual victims who are in need.”
Fraudsters often take advantage of national disasters by sending deceptive emails, using social media to solicit donations, or creating fake websites.
The fraudster will create these fake websites to trick well-meaning individuals into contributing.
These scams can include everything from fraudulent phone calls and text messages to door-to-door solicitations and misleading online fundraising campaigns.
Simonton offered several guidelines to help people avoid falling victim to fraud:
- Donate directly to recognized organizations rather than through intermediaries.
- Avoid pressure tactics used by scammers; legitimate charities do not employ these methods.
- Do not click on unsolicited emails or texts that may seek personal or financial information.
- Verify charities by researching their legitimacy through independent sources.
- Beware of copycat organizations with names that closely resemble reputable charities.
- Use credit cards or checks for donations, avoiding cash and payment to individuals.
- Be cautious of emails with attachments or links claiming to show disaster photos, as they may contain malware.
To combat disaster-related fraud, the DOJ established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) following Hurricane Katrina.
The NCDF works with more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters.
Anyone who encounters suspicious fundraising efforts or other potentially fraudulent activity related to Hurricane Helene can report it through the NCDF’s 24-hour hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting a complaint online.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others.
The Hurricane made landfall on Sept. 26 and has been blamed for hundreds of lives lost and millions of dollars in damage.
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