Oklahoma AG urges charity fraud awareness following recent storms

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Attorney General Gentner Drummond is encouraging Oklahomans to be aware of charity fraud, following the recent tornadoes that devastated several areas of the state.

Charity fraud is a very common trend following natural disasters and can happen through different social media platforms, phone calls, emails and several other methods.

“It’s important for Oklahomans to stay on alert against scammers looking to take advantage of those wanting to help,” Drummond said. “In Oklahoma, we are rightly known for helping our neighbors and lending a hand to those in need. Before making a donation to help, do your research and make sure your gift is going to a legitimate cause.”

The best ways to avoid these charity scams include:

• Research the charity to make sure it offers true charitable programs and services and check to see if it is authorized to receive tax-exempt donations. Resources include the IRS, Oklahoma Secretary of State’s Office, the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and Guidestar.
• Beware of any charity that appears to have been created recently and does not have much publicly available information.
• If you get donation requests via email or text, never click on links or open attachments unless you know who sent the message. Messages could be phishing attempts to gain your personal information. If you are interested in donating to the charity who contacted you, visit the organization’s website for giving options.
• Exercise diligence when giving money to a charitable cause or a charitable organization through a crowdfunding platform such as GoFundMe. Crowdfunding campaigns can be set up by anyone and are not limited to charities. Obtain information on who the campaign organizer is; if you don’t know the person or entity, research them further.

Drummond adds that anyone who violates the law by operating charity scams is subject to legal consequences.

If you suspect a charity is fraudulent, you can report it to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit by calling 1-833-681-1895 or by emailing consumerprotection@oag.ok.gov.