In any situation where emotions are running high and money is changing hands, you can expect to find scammers running around. Unfortunately, amidst the destruction caused by Wildfires in Southern Californiascams start to bubble quickly.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has warned of a growing problem with scams targeting people who want to donate to wildfire relief efforts at a press conference on Saturday. The state Better Business Bureau also chimed in, offering tips on what to look for in potential scams.
“We have big-hearted people who want to help, who want to donate, who want to support the victims,” Bonta said. “We also see scammers taking advantage of that kindness and that generosity and scamming and deceiving those individuals.”
Wildfires near Los Angeles have been raging since Jan. 7, including the Eaton Fire and the Pacific Palisades Fire, the two largest and most destructive fires. So far, more than 200,000 people have been evacuated, and it is believed that more than 12,000 buildings have been destroyed, and the damage is estimated at more than 250 billion dollars. With the level of aid and financial assistance Now pouring into the region, it has created an ideal environment for fraudsters to run wild.
Read all the details you need to protect yourself from these scams. For more wildfire coverage, see how victims can avoid illegal rent spikes and find out how to navigate wildfire water advisories.
What Kind of Scams Are Victims of the Los Angeles Wildfires Exploiting?
During his press conference, Bonta mentioned that the scams target people trying to donate money or supplies to wildfire victims, setting up fake organizations to trick those good Samaritans — often designed to trick people with official names.
Who are these scammers targeting the most?
The scams target the elderly, immigrants and non-English speakers in particular, Bonta said. These are three groups of people who are often the target of scams in general. But anyone can be accepted if they don't pay much attention.
What are the key signs of fraud?
Here, too, the signs to look out for are common to all types of scams. Scammers, California BBB explained to local outlet KTLAthey often engage in “high-pressure” sales tactics, pushing people to act quickly and recklessly, which can lead to poor decision-making. Keep an eye out for any future charities that look like they want you to give as soon as possible.
Fraudsters are also more likely to ask for cash transactions, or any other form of payment that makes it difficult or impossible for you to track transactions. Whenever possible, you should only make donations through secure platforms and with credit cards so that payments can be tracked in the event of fraud.
Are GoFundMe wildfire charities safe from scams?
GoFundMe said it has stepped up its efforts to prevent fraud on its site. The popular crowdfunding platform has been working on vetting all bushfire-related sites, and has pulled together all the verified ones for good measure. on a separate page. The company also put out a call to a number of notable organizations that people can contact without any fear of scams if they want to help with wildfire relief efforts, including World Central Kitchen, Pasadena Humane and Baby2Baby.
How do you verify that a charity is real?
Speaking about wildfire aid scams, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell suggested using online tools like Charity Navigator or on California BBB website verify the charity you are considering giving to. Another solid option is Tax Exempt Organization Search Tool.
For more, find out as an app helps people monitor wildfire conditions.