Do your homework on charities to avoid hurricane scams advises BBB

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - As the cleanup continues from hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida and other states, alarm bells are sounding over scammers.

Millions of Americans are trying to lend a helping hand through supplies and donations, but the Better Business Bureau says shady charities are also trying to tap into that spirit of generosity. If you're trying to figure out if an organization is legit, ask yourself whether you reached out to them. A real red flag is when they contact you through an email, text, or voicemail.

"It's not that those can't be legitimate; they can, but you just should not click the link and respond to the email directly. If you think you want to help that particular cause that reached out to you, stop and vet it separately. That's the number one piece of advice that I can give," stated Lane Montz, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau.

Montz says the Better Business Bureau's sister organization, "Wise Giving Alliance," makes the donation process easier through their website https://give.org/ by weeding through the fly-by-night charities.

"If you scroll down the page a little bit, there will be a whole article on the website about hurricane donations right now, and they have pre-vetted about 25 different charities that are large, well known, well established, that meet the Wise Giving Alliance's standards for trustworthiness," added Montz.

He says also check to see if the charity has a physical presence in the hurricane-ravaged area. Remember they will need help for a few months, so you have time to do your homework on charities.