Sep 1, 2017
Hurricane Harvey has wrought more devastation than any natural disaster in the U.S. over the last decade. Thousands of people have lost their homes, and the estimated cost of relief is currently topping $10 billion.
As Texans, this tragedy hits close to home. And many have opened their purse strings and donated whenever they can to help the victims of this horrific hurricane.
Unfortunately, though, that’s exactly what many scammers are counting on. When emotions run high, they know they can count on your caution to be thrown to the winds and your wallet to be thrown wide open.
If you’d love to assist with relief funds, but want to make sure your money is really being used for helping victims – and not padding the pockets of scammers – use this handy guide as your reference. Now you can give with confidence!
1.) Avoid Harvey Scams
Opportunists using this crisis to con you out of your money are great in number, but with just a bit of awareness and precaution, you can avoid all scammers.
First, make sure your computer’s security systems are updated to the most recent versions, as scammers will first prey on unprotected devices.
Second, as always, never share your personal information with an unverified source.
There are hundreds of “must-watch” hurricane Harvey videos circulating the web, each with attention-grabbing titles and thousands of views. Many of these, though, will ask you to input your email username and password before you can watch them. Doing so can infect your device with malware and give scammers an open door into your computer.
Similarly, do not click on any links or download anything from suspicious sources. Remember, the urgent “Donate Now” ads on your social media pages might look convincing, but may actually be the work of a sophisticated scammer.
Finally, it’s best not to donate over the phone because it’s difficult to verify a charity’s authenticity that way.
2.) Verify a charity’s validity
While Harvey scammers abound, that doesn’t mean there aren’t thousands of sincere people who are genuinely concerned for victims and are collecting donations to help them out.
If you come across a charity you’d like to donate to, you can easily determine its validity. Check out the charity on the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator or Charity Watch. Be sure the charity’s name matches the listed charity exactly. Alternatively, contact the organization yourself.
You can also ask a representative to share details about the charity with you. If they seem reluctant to answer questions or they brush off your concerns, that’s a red flag – proceed with caution!
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also recommends checking with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster for a list of legitimate disaster-relief organizations based in Texas.
3.) Reach out on your own
Perhaps the best way to ensure your money is really going toward its intended targets is to contact the charities yourself. This way, you can be sure you’ve reached the actual organization and not an impersonator.
There are many legitimate organizations accepting donations on behalf of Harvey victims. Here are a few to get you started:
The American Red Cross. You can donate on their website, by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS ((1-800-733-2767) or you can text HARVEY to 90999 to donate.
The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center has reported a critical shortage. You can donate by calling (210) 731-5590 or by visiting their website for more information.
Note: WE ARE HOSTING A BLOOD DRIVE SEPTEMBER 7 FOR THIS EFFORT!
To help animals suffering from the disaster, you can visit the Houston Humane Society or the San Antonio Humane Society. For long-distance assistance, the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has set up an animal emergency response hotline, at (713) 861-3010. They are also accepting donations on their website.
Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital (a cause near and dear to our hearts here at the credit union) and is in need of donations. They are accepting donations on their website.
The Junior League of Wichita Falls, Inc. is accepting donations to be distributed to other South Texas area Junior Leagues, so that they individually can identify and address the specific needs of their communities, now and long-term, throughout the recovery process. They are also accepting donations on their website.
Times of crisis bring out the best and the worst in humanity. Don’t let crooks destroy your goodwill. Keep your guard up and research every charity before donating to steer clear of scammers. Doing so will help you have confidence that your charitable giving is being put to proper good use.
SOURCES:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/08/wise-giving-wake-hurricane-harvey https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/donate-harvey-charities-scams.amp.html https://www.google.com/amp/amp.timeinc.net/fortune/2017/08/29/hurricane-harvey-scam/%3Fsource%3Ddam