Before you donate to relief funds to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian, keep an eye out for scammers looking to take advantage of you.
MICHIGAN, USA — As Hurricane Ian makes its way toward South Carolina, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is encouraging Michiganders to watch out for donation scams related to the disaster.
Troy Baker with BBB of West Michigan says bad actors can take advantage of your interest in helping others after the hurricane. He says it’s important to be diligent and research the organizations collecting donations.
“There are a lot of organizations out there that are trying to do the best they can to help out those people that are impacted,” he said. “But just because you get a phone call and email or a text message, doesn’t necessarily mean that that’s the best place to give your money.”
If you’re looking to donate, he says you should research the organization and learn how it plans to spend the donations. He also recommends contacting the group and asking any questions you may have. Once you’ve decided to donate to a particular organization, donate directly to them through their official website.
While you’re looking for organizations, Baker says you should keep a close eye on their names. Fraudulent groups will have names similar to…
