When disaster strikes, scammers seem to get to work as quickly as response efforts do– sometimes more quickly. That has South Dakota’s Attorney General warning people to be selective in how they donate to relief efforts for victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Marty Jackley encourages people to only donate through reputable organizations. Some things to consider before making a donation are:
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Only give money to a legitimate relief organization such as the Red Cross.
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Organizations, including government agencies, do not ask for money by telephone or on the internet.
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Do not click onto pop-up messages that appear on computers or text messages on telephones from unknown sources.
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Talk to someone you can trust before you provide money or personal information to someone who contacts you.
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Check and double check email addresses if they are asking you to send money.
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If the caller represents a business or government agency, don’t trust the telephone number they give you. Hang up and call the organization’s office.
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Treat calls or emails demanding immediate action with suspicion.
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Do not give into high pressured sales tactics.
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Do not provide financial or personal information over the phone or via the internet.
Consumers who believe they may have been a victim of any type of scam– whether connected to the hurricanes or not– should contact the Attorney General’s Office’s Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-300-1986 or online at https://consumer.sd.gov/.
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