The FBI issued a warning to Florida residents and people seeking to make donations to support Hurricane Ian victims about potential fraud schemes that frequently follow hurricanes and other natural disasters.
“Watch out for scammers trying to use a natural disaster like Hurricane Ian to steal your money, your personal information, or both,” the FBI’s Tampa office wrote in a recent warning.
The bureau said it is recommending that would-be donors use established charities or trusted groups, be aware of groups with copycat names, be wary of new organizations soliciting donations, and be cautious when a charity or group asks for cash only.
Donating via check or credit card is preparable, the FBI said while adding that groups that are asking for donations via “cash, gift card, virtual currency, or wire transfer,” are “probably a scam.”
The FBI’s Miami office also advised potential donors to “do your homework” before providing donations, adding that people can look into reviews of certain charities, state regulators for charities, and reports of charities at the Better Business Bureau.
Death Toll Increases
The death toll from Hurricane Ian has increased to 54 people, including at least 47 in Florida, officials told The Associated Press.
“It’s really, really incredible the amount of flood that we’re seeing,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference on Saturday.
