TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - When disasters hit hard like Hurricane Michael, people are willing to step in and help.
But the aftermath of a natural disaster can also be a prime opportunity for scammers.
We've seen it time and time again, scammers setting up fake charities to take your money.
Kevin Collins, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, says it's not a matter if it happens, it's a matter of when.
"You want to make sure that your money is going to help the victims of the disaster you're sending it to because if you give your money to a charity that's not using it the way that you want it, you've not only taken that money out of your hands but you've also taken it out of the legitimate charity that could be doing good work with that money," said Collins.
A few things to keep in mind, be careful about email solicitors because anyone could easily fake an email address to make it look like a real charity.
Watch out for phone scammers, get detailed information about the charity and program.
Never give your credit card or bank account information over the phone if you're unsure.
