If you want to donate to Hurricane Milton and Helene's relief efforts, be wary of scammers taking advantage of the urgent event. Scams may be misinformation, impersonating real charities, creating fake fundraisers, or through AI-generated posts on social media.
Sydney Waters with the Better Business Bureau says to research any organization before donating so you can trust that your contribution is helping as much as possible.
The BBB suggests being aware of high-pressure messages. While hurricanes are a time-sensitive issue, legitimate organizations will still accept donations after you take the time to research. Understand if the charity can get to the impacted area. Know where the money you donate goes, whether straight to the cause or elsewhere.
Avoid clicking links on unsolicited texts and emails, as they could be phishing attempts. Be cautious of crowdfunding sites, and consider giving directly to the organization.
To view a list of BBB-accredited charities, visit https://www.bbb.org/.
