Crime: Charity Scams, Scam Artists Exploit Compassion After Hurricane Helene
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the nation’s capital is warning the public of charity scams targeting victims and donors alike.
According to Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, scam artists are taking advantage of people’s goodwill by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions.
Haanstad issued a public safety alert on October 7, 2024, advising the public to be vigilant and exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by the storm.
The public should be cautious of solicitations that can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods.
Before making a donation to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including making contributions directly to known organizations, not being pressured into making contributions, and not responding to unsolicited communications.
“When natural disasters strike, Americans are often at their best, seeking to help their neighbors and fellow citizens in any way possible,” said United States Attorney Greg Haanstad. “However, these disasters also provide an opportunity for scam artists to take advantage of this compassion and generosity.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office warns residents of Wisconsin to be mindful as they consider participating in solicited or unsolicited donation requests and to report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims through the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF).
Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
Defendant: U.S. Government, no specific individual or entity charged
Criminal Charges: No specific charges mentioned
City and State: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Exact Date: October 7, 2024
Sentence or Outcome: No sentence or outcome mentioned as this is a warning, not a prosecution
Amount: No amount mentioned
Related Federal Cases
- Alberto Fernandez Ramirez, Theft of Government Money, Wisconsin 2020 · Wisconsin
- Robert F. Spoerl, Tax Refund Theft, Wisconsin 2017 · Wisconsin
- Jeffrey Lewke, Crop Insurance Fraud, Wisconsin 2017 · Washington
- Archie G Overby, Bank Fraud, Wisconsin 2019 · North Carolina
- Richard J. Clark, Tax Evasion, Wisconsin 2019 · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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