Nebraskans have been warned to be cautious of hurricane relief scams following the recent devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr issued a public alert urging residents to be on guard against fraudsters looking to exploit both the victims and those eager to help.
Hurricane Helene struck Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26, causing widespread destruction and claiming at least 227 lives. More recently, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida, resulting in the deaths of six people.
Lehr cautioned that scammers often take advantage of such disasters by sending fraudulent emails, creating fake websites, and posting on social media to solicit donations. She emphasized the need for caution when contributing to relief efforts and provided tips to help avoid falling victim to fraud.
Her recommendations include donating directly to well-known charities, avoiding pressure to donate quickly, and being wary of unsolicited messages. Lehr also advised verifying the legitimacy of charitable organizations before contributing, watching for copycat charity names, and avoiding cash donations or money transfers. She stressed that legitimate charity websites typically end in “.org” and warned against opening email attachments from unknown sources, as they may contain harmful viruses.