Sickening Scams Target Texans Donating to Flood Victim
As Texans rush to support Hill Country families devastated by the floods, not everyone’s heart is in the right place. While some are giving, others are scheming, and Attorney General Ken Paxton says donation scams are already on the rise.
“I will not tolerate anyone taking advantage of the goodwill that’s been pouring out from across the country to support our fellow Texans," Attorney General Paxton said.
In a consumer alert issued Tuesday, Paxton said some scammers are exploiting the disaster to trick good-hearted people out of their money.
“Unfortunately, there are some heinous individuals who are trying to use this tragedy to perpetrate scams and steal money from those wanting to help Texans impacted by this devastating flooding."
If you’re planning to donate, make sure your money actually helps those in need, not someone running a scam behind a fake phone number or sketchy website.
Here’s how to help safely — without getting scammed:
- Don’t wire money or give out your bank, credit card, or Social Security numbers.
- Be skeptical of calls or texts asking for donations, scammers can spoof names and numbers.
- Check out organizations on sites like CharityWatch or GuideStar before donating.
- Register your number with the Texas Do Not Call Registry and National Do Not Call Registry to cut down on shady solicitations.
Want to report something suspicious? Call the Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-621-0508 or file a complaint online at the Texas Attorney General’s website.
Texans are known for stepping up; just make sure your generosity ends up in the right hands.