Austin, Texas – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton offered important instructions on Tuesday to help Texans properly support charitable relief efforts while avoiding scams in reaction to the terrible flooding that has hit several areas in the state.
The horrible floods that have forced thousands of people to leave their homes and caused a lot of damage have led to a surge of kindness from people all around the state and the country. Paxton, on the other hand, said that fraudsters are taking advantage of the situation to trick people who want to help.
“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,” Paxton said. He emphasized his commitment to protecting consumers and vowed swift action against any individuals caught misusing charitable efforts for personal gain.
Paxton offered a number of important recommendations to make sure that donations go to real organizations and help flood victims directly. One important piece of advice from his office was to never send money through wire transfers or give out private information like credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or Social Security numbers to people you don’t know, as these can be signs of a scam.
Paxton also told Texans to use trusted sources to verify charitable organizations before giving them money. CharityWatch, a well-known independent charity watchdog, and GuideStar, a nonprofit information hub, are two websites that give you a lot of information on organizations so you can be sure your donations are going to the right place and being used for flood relief.
The Attorney General also warned people to be on the lookout for “smishing,” which is when someone asks for money through text messages. Scammers often use this trick with fake phone numbers or identities in the hopes of taking advantage of contributors’ kindness. Paxton told Texans to sign up for the Texas Do Not Call Registry or the National Do Not Call Registry to cut down on unwanted calls.
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If you live in Texas and see any suspicious activity or fraudulent requests for donations relating to charitable work, you can call the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. You can file a complaint online or by calling a toll-free number provided by Paxton’s office.
“My prayers continue to be with those who have been impacted by this devastating tragedy,” Paxton said, affirming his solidarity with the victims.
AG Paxton urged the public to remain alert, aware, and proactive to make sure that their good will really reaches other Texans who need help right now during this difficult time of recovery.
The Attorney General’s official website has more information, advice, and extensive instructions on how to give to charity safely. By following these rules, Texans can help people in need without worrying about anyone trying to take advantage of this sad situation.
