Attorney General Kwame Raoul, BBB warning of hurricane relief scams

CHICAGO (CBS) — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the Better Business Bureau both issued a warning to residents on Friday about hurricane fundraising scams in the wake of Helene and Milton.
Potential donors are advised to research whether the charity they’re giving to provides direct aid or raises money for other groups. 
Donors seeking to support hurricane relief efforts should be cautious of requests for clothing, food, or other in-kind donations. Those may not be appropriate and may be more of a burden than a help without the staff and infrastructure to distribute.
According to Raoul, a simple solution is to avoid the middleman and give directly to charities in the region.
Other tips to ensure a donation will be used for its intended purpose include:
The Better Business Bureau is echoing the same warnings, advising residents to watch out for unsolicited calls, texts, or emails asking for hurricane relief donations.
The Red Cross, Salvation Army, World Vision, and other BBB-accredited charities are engaged in activities to assist hurricane relief efforts. According to the BBB, scam attempts will continue for the next several months. 
The BBB is offering additional advice:
Those who believe they have encountered a scam should report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Raoul also encourages donors to contact his office’s Charitable Trust Bureau to report suspicious solicitations by calling 312-814-2595 or submitting a consumer complaint through the Attorney General’s website. 
Visit the Wise Giving Alliance for more advice on giving to charities that help those in need.