Recent times have seen several natural disasters strike the United States, but Attorney General Derek Schmidt is reminding Kansans to be aware of potential scam artists looking to use these events to their advantage.

 

Following the recent hurricane that struck the Texas and Lousiana coast, as well as the wildfires in the western states, Schmidt said Kansans are eager to help out, but should make sure they are checking the reputation of the charity they are donating to.

 

Below is a list of tips provided by Schmidt's office. More information on avoiding charity scams is available on the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org.

 

 

• Make donations to established organizations with a strong track record of organizing and providing disaster relief.

• Be careful with social media efforts to fundraise for storm and fire victims.

• Initiate the donation yourself, rather than responding to online or phone solicitations. If you wish to make a donation online, go directly to the charity’s website; don’t just click a link to an unknown site.

• Avoid door-to-door solicitors or offers from charities to stop by a consumer’s home to pick up a check. These too could be fraudulent.

• Do not fall prey to high-pressure pitches from solicitors. Legitimate charities allow you time to think about how much — and when — you choose to donate.

• Be wary of charities that ask for alternate forms of payment. Legitimate charities rarely if ever ask you to give by wire transfer, gift card or other non-traditional methods.

• Before giving, check out the charity at www.kscharitycheck.org to assess whether it is registered to solicit in Kansas and to see important aspects of its financial filings, including how much of any money you give will be spent on the charity’s overhead expenses rather than going to support the charitable purpose, such as disaster-relief efforts. However, some charities are exempt by law from registration.