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ELKINS -- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is urging residents to be on guard against impostors calling to solicit monetary donations to aid those affected by the impact of Hurricane Helene.
Morrisey said scammers will be working to seize the opportunity to "prey on people's generosity and giving hearts," taking advantage of the organizations that have been set up to provide relief to victims.
"The people who have been affected by this historic and catastrophic event are in my thoughts and prayers," Morrisey said in a press release. "Many people will give generously but unfortunately, there are those who would take advantage of people's willingness to help."
States affected by Hurricane Helene include North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia, with several counties in West Virginia, including Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming, dealing with damage and power outages caused by heavy winds and flooding.
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has reached at least 180, as of publication, with more than 600 people remaining missing. Helene is the U.S. mainland's second-deadliest tropical storm in modern history, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which killed at least 1,200 people, and surpassing Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which caused around 160 fatalities each.
Morrisey said the FBI has stated that while donation scams can happen at any time, they are especially prevalent after high-profile disasters, such as hurricanes. The FBI also stated that charity and disaster fraud schemes seek donations that do little or no work to actually help, with money going to the fake charity's creator.
Those who want to give to a charity or organization should confirm it is registered with the proper state government agency, Morrisey said. If an organization is registered in West Virginia, people can access that information through the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office. Charities can also be researched online via www.charitynavigator.org or www.guidestar.org.
"I encourage those who wish to give to the relief and recovery efforts to do so but do research and give wisely so that your kindness and generosity actually helps those in need," Morrisey said.
Morrisey's office offered additional tips to keep in mind when giving to disaster relief organizations:
Only give to established charities or groups whose work you know and trust. Never feel pressured to donate immediately.
Be suspicious of charities that ask for donations in cash, gift cards or via wire transfer.
Consider paying by credit card, which is the safest option for security and tax purposes.
Ask how much of an individual donation directly supports the relief effort.
Never rely on a group's sympathetic sounding name or its similarity to a well-known, reputable entity.
Be wary of unsolicited calls that thank you for donations that you do not recall making.
Verify any local chapter is authorized to solicit funds on behalf of its parent organization.
Go directly to a charity or organization's website instead of clicking on a link to the desired group.
Any online contribution website should start with https://. The "s" verifies a secure connection, making it less likely for personal information to be stolen.
Be wary of any charity refusing to detail its mission, use of donations or proof of tax deductibility.
Keep records, including a letter confirming the charitable status of the organization, for contributions in excess of $250.
Morrisey asks that any West Virginian solicited to donate to a charity they think may be fraudulent can contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808, or file a complaint online at www.ago.wv.gov.