Pinellas County Consumer Protection is advising citizens to be wary of solicitations for charitable contributions on behalf of Hurricane Ian victims in Florida, or elsewhere. You always want to verify charities before donating food and other goods.
All charities soliciting within Florida are required to register and file financial information with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. This is excluding religious, educational, political, and government entities. To check whether a charitable organization is properly registered, visit Check-A-Charity. This is a resource that provides the information reported to the department.
Related: Why Don’t Hurricanes Directly Hit Tampa Bay?
Here are additional recommendations from Consumer Protection:
- Do not judge an organization based solely on its name. Many organizations have names that sound like those of reputable organizations but may be fraudulent.
- Ask for a copy of the charity’s financial report to determine how much of your contribution is going toward the cause and how much funds administrative and fundraising costs.
- Beware of pressure tactics to give immediately. Don’t let emotional appeals or photos persuade you into giving. Make sure the solicitation is legitimate.
- Some charitable groups employ paid solicitors, in which case, not all of your donation will go to the charitable cause. Check to see if this is the case.
- Ask if donations are tax deductible.
- Never give cash. Contribute by using a secure payment method sent to a verified organization.
- For more information on how to protect yourself after a storm, visit Pinellas County Post-Disaster Consumer Tips. To report suspected fraud, call (727) 464-6200.
