New Yorkers warned: be cautious in charitable giving for hurricane relief

New York State officials are reminding New Yorkers seeking to provide support to victims of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton to look Out for Sham Charities and make sure to give to trustworthy organizations. New Yorkers seeking to donate to disaster relief efforts should consider the following tips and guidelines:

• Solicited by Email? Find Out Who Is Soliciting.
• Be Careful When Giving Through Social Media or Other Fundraising Sites. Before giving through social media or fundraising sites, research the identity of the organizer of the fundraising efforts and ask the same questions you would of a charity.
• Check Before Giving. Donate to charities you are familiar with and carefully review information about the charity before you give.

• Ask How Your Donation Will Be Used. Find out how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and individuals your donation will support.
• Look Into Newly Formed Organizations Carefully. While most of these organizations are well-intentioned, and some may provide innovative forms of assistance, some may not have the experience or infrastructure to follow through on their promises, and some may turn out to be scams.
• Exercise Caution Before You Text A Contribution. Check the charity’s website or call the charity to confirm it has authorized contributions to be made via text message.
• Don't Give Cash. Give directly to the charity either by check made payable to the organization or through the charity's website.
• Be Careful About Personal Information. Be cautious before giving credit card or personal information over the phone, by text message, or via the internet.

Residents who suspect an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a fundraising or charitable scam is taking place, can file a complaint with the Charities Bureau, or call 212-416-8401.

For more information on avoiding charity scams and how to better determine if a charity is legitimate, click here.

Avoid Hurricane-related charity scams

The following tips have been offered by New York State officials for those contributing to the relief effort:

• Take Time To Research The Organization.
• Know Where Your Money Will Go.
• Give to Established Charities.
• Be Cautious With Telephone Solicitations.
• Check Before You Text A Contribution.
• Check Before Donating to an Online Giving Site.
• Don’t Respond to Unsolicited Spam Emails.
• Never Give Cash.
• Be Careful About Personal Information.
• Report Suspicious Organizations.

If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a scam is taking place, click here.

For more information on how to avoid a scam, click here.

Legal guide for New York property owners: recovery and rebuilding from Hurricane Sandy

The New York State Attorney General’s office  has issued a guide to New Yorkers recovering from Hurricane Sandy.  The guide includes tips on “how to avoid scams as they restore and rebuild their homes and businesses.”

The tips offered in the guide include information on hiring a reputable contractor for property clean-up and repair, as well as how to avoid and report illegal price gouging.

For more information, click here.

Some New York State Courts Closed from Hurricane Irene

According to the New York State Office of Court Administration, a number of courts, including several in the Southern Tier of upstate New York, are closing and/or rescheduling Monday’s court cases, due to Hurricane Irene.

People with business before the courts on Monday are urged to check the state’s official website, or contact the court first thing in the morning, to make sure their case has not been adjourned to another date.