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FILE - In this April 8, 2019, file photo, a woman browses her smartphone in Philadelphia. Accidental cuts and bruises to the face, head and neck from cellphones are sending increasing numbers of Americans to the emergency room, according to a study that estimates 76,000 cases over nine years. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- People in Indiana are being warned about charity scams after storms and flooding hit the state.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita asked Hoosiers to remain vigilant as scammers are looking to exploit the disasters by targeting charitable and help people. Rokita said people should take proactive steps to protect themselves from deceptive schemes that promise aid or services.

"Hoosiers are good-hearted people who may want to donate to help quickly rebuild hard hit communities after the recent devastating storms, but that giving nature can make them targets for scammers looking to profit from hardship," Rokita said in a news release. "We must stay one step ahead of these fraudsters by doing our homework and ensuring our resources go to legitimate recovery efforts, not into the hands of con artists."

The attorney general's office is working to track down criminals who are creating illegal scams. Rokita offered a variety of tips to safeguard against charity-related scams:

  • Slow Down: A real charity will accept your donations any day of the week. Take as much time as you need to feel confident that your money is being used to help the cause you expect. Ask questions. If the request for a donation is over the phone, the caller should be able to answer critical questions.
  • Make sure you are dealing with the real charitable organization. Be leery of unknown or unfamiliar organizations you receive by phone, mail, email, and/or social media.
  • Always donate by credit card rather than cash or other methods. This will ensure you can access the protections available through your credit card company.
  • Research the cause or the organization: Search online for the name of the organization or cause with words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See if others have had good or bad experiences with the charity. Check out what charity watchdog groups like CharityNavigator.org, CharityWatch.org, Give.org, and Guidestar.org say about that organization.

Hoosiers who believe they've encountered a scam should report it immediately to the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516.

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