In any situation where emotions are running high and money is changing hands, you can expect to find scammers rooting around. Unfortunately, amidst the devastation caused by Wildfires in Southern Californiascams quickly began to explode.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned of a growing issue of scams targeting people looking to donate to wildfire relief efforts. in a press conference last Saturday. The state’s Better Business Bureau also got involved, providing advice on what to look for from possible scams.

“We have people with big hearts who want to help, they want to donate, they want to support the victims,” ​​said Bonta. “We also see scammers taking advantage of that kindness and that generosity and scamming and deceiving individuals.”

Wildfires near Los Angeles have been raging since January 7, including the Eaton Fire and Pacific Palisades Fire, the two largest and most destructive fires. More than 200,000 people have been evacuated so far, with more than 12,000 structures believed to have been destroyed and the cost of damages estimated at more than $250 billion. With the level of aid and financial assistance that now flow through the region, making it an ideal environment for con artists to run.

Read on for all the details you need to protect yourself from these scams. For more wildfire coverage, see how victims can avoid illegal rent increases and know how to navigate water alerts caused by wildfires.

What kind of scams are taking advantage of LA fire victims?

During his press conference, Bonta mentioned that scams are targeting people who try to donate money or supplies to fire victims, setting up fake organizations to defraud those good Samaritans — who often designed to deceive people with official names.

Who are these scammers targeting the most?

The scams target the elderly, immigrants and non-English speakers in particular, Bonta said. These are the three groups of people that are often targeted by scams in general. But anyone can get carried away if they are not careful.

What are the key signs of a scam?

Here again, the signs to watch out for are common to all types of scams. Scammers, California BBB explained to local outlet KTLAoften engage in “high-pressure” marketing tactics, which force people to act quickly and quickly, which can lead to poor decision-making. Be on the lookout for any charities that seem to want you to give as soon as possible.

Scammers are more likely to request transactions in cash, or any other form of payment that makes it difficult or impossible for you to track transactions. If possible, you should only make donations through secure platforms and using credit cards, so that payments can be tracked in the event of a scam.

Is GoFundMe wildfire charity safe from scams?

GoFundMe says it is stepping up efforts to prevent scams on its site. The popular fundraising platform works to verify all wildfire-related pages, and for good measure collects everything verified. on a special page. The company also gave a shoutout to several notable organizations that people can donate to without fear of scams if they want to help with wildfire relief efforts, including World Central Kitchen, Pasadena Humane and Baby2Baby. .

How do you verify if a charity is real?

Speaking of wildfire relief scams, Los Angeles police chief Jim McDonnell suggested using online tools such as Charity Navigator or the The California BBB website to prove the love you think about giving. Another strong option is IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search Tool.

For more, find out how an app helps people track wildfire conditions.