At least 25 people have died and thousands more displaced as fires continue to burn in Southern California. But with relief efforts shifting into gear, authorities in Arizona are warning against scammers taking advantage of the public’s eagerness to help.
Richie Taylor with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office says events like this often bring scammers out of the woodwork, pretending to be disaster victims in need.
“Arizonans are good neighbors and they want to be able to help our neighbors and their friends and family in California,” Taylor said, “and so we expect and are already seeing that these types of scams will pop up.”
Taylor emphasized the importance of donating to an organization you know or can verify yourself, with a secure payment method like a credit card, and of taking the time to know who you’re donating to and whether you trust their work.
“If someone is pressuring you to immediately donate, that’s a red flag for a scam,” said Taylor. “If someone is asking you to donate using either gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, that is a huge red flag.”
If all else fails, Taylor said, “Trust your gut, trust your intuition. If it sounds or feels like something may be off, it probably is.”
He also encouraged anyone who feels they’ve been scammed to reach out to the AG’s Office.