There are retailers, TV telethons, and other organizations asking for the public to help those recovering from flooding and other damage from Hurricane Florence.
So how do you know which charities are reputable and where your money is really going? North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein says it's a good idea to ask several questions before you make your financial gift.
“You want to make sure that they're a licensed solicitor, so you can ask if they've registered with the secretary of state,” says Stein. “You want to know how they will use their money, what the proceeds will go to and then ask them how much of the money they raise is paid to the charitable solicitor versus going to provide the service.”
Stein says don't respond to a solicitation that comes over email, telephone or someone that you bump into at the gas station. Instead, be proactive in determining who you want to give your money to.
Consumer groups also recommend not using cash to pay for your donation. They say use a credit card or check to help keep track of it.
Stein says contact the North Carolina Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau, if you think you've been scammed. He expects his office will start getting calls about home repair and tree removal schemes once the waters recede.
Stein says there are several established nonprofits that are doing important work in North Carolina to help aid in recovery efforts from the storm.
He says one of them is The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. The state is overseeing the contributions and Gov. Cooper's office says it will help with immediate unmet needs of Hurricane Florence victims.
Other nonprofits accepting donations to help aid North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Florence:
- The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina
- The United Way of North Carolina
- The North Carolina Community Foundation
- Diaper Bank of North Carolina
*Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news