BUFFALO, N.Y. — As communities in the Southeast grapple with the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene, and now a second punch from Hurricane Milton, nonprofit organizations are warning consumers to watch out for disaster relief scams.
"People of Western New York are incredibly generous, especially when a disaster or tragedy strikes. However, you have to remember, unfortunately, there are some people who are going to try to take it, take advantage of that," said Katarina Schmieder, Communications director at BBB of Upstate New York.
The Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York says to watch out for key red flags before you pull your wallet out.
"One tactic scammers love to use is, you know, any payment form that's either untraceable or difficult to reverse, peer to peer payment apps are a good example. Gift cards are another example," said Schmieder.
Consumers are also advised to watch out for phone calls. The BBB says reputable agencies will never call and pressure you into a donation.
"You should look out for any unsolicited appeals. You know, if you get phone calls with somebody on the other end, pressuring you to donate immediately," Schmieder said.
There's always the option of dropping off physical items at donation drives, many of which have already popped up across Western New York. But if you don't have the time and would rather donate monetarily...
"You just want to make sure that you know you're dealing with charities that are established, do some homework," Schmieder said.
And if you're not sure of who or where to donate to, the BBB has a one stop shop with a list of vetted organizations.
Click here for a link for The BBB Wise Giving Alliance.
The pop up in scams also prompted the New York State Attorney General's office to lay out a a list of guidelines to follow. Click here for the full list.