U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan has issued a warning to the public regarding potential charity scams following Hurricane Helene. He emphasized the need for vigilance when contributing to hurricane relief efforts, noting that scammers often exploit such disasters to deceive well-meaning donors.
"Natural disasters unfailingly prompt members of our communities to respond with an outpouring of compassion and support for impacted family members, neighbors, friends and strangers," Buchanan stated. "Unfortunately, these occurrences also attract scammers who capitalize on such calamities to exploit affected fellow citizens when they are most vulnerable."
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region on September 26, 2024, causing significant damage across multiple states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. In response to this devastation, fraudulent schemes have emerged targeting both victims and those wishing to help.
Buchanan urged the public to be cautious when donating:
- Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on intermediaries.
- Avoid being pressured into donations as reputable charities do not employ such tactics.
- Do not engage with unsolicited communications or click links in suspicious messages.
- Verify charity legitimacy through independent online resources.
- Be wary of charities with names similar but not identical to well-known organizations.
- Prefer credit card payments or checks written directly to charities over cash donations.
- Recognize that legitimate charities typically do not request donations via money transfer services.
The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) after Hurricane Katrina. The NCDF collaborates with over 50 agencies to combat disaster-related fraud and encourages reporting any suspicious activity related to relief operations at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm or by calling (866) 720-5721.
For further inquiries, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.