Oregonians should exercise significant caution to avoid potential scams when they seek contractors for help to rebuild their homes after a wildfire or support an online fundraising campaign for those who have been affected by the fires, according to state emergency officials.
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management in a pressreleaseurged Oregonians to make donations through secure websites and research a contractor’s history before paying for debris removal or home repairs. People should also consider using credit cards instead of cash to ensure transactions are documented, be mindful of door-to-door schemes and verify government workers by requesting their identification, the agency said.
“When disasters strike, Oregonians come together to support neighbors and communities,” the news release reads. “Unfortunately, scammers may try to exploit that generosity by creating fake fundraising campaigns or misrepresenting their intentions. Fraud attempts may come via phone calls, mail, email, text messages, or even in‑person visits.”
Emergency department officials referred to the state Department of Justice’s Charitable Activitieswebsite, where Oregonians can verify the authenticity of a nonprofit or professional fundraising firm. The Oregon Department of Justice alsooperates a scam alertsystem that state officials encourage people to use. Although it has yet to put out an alert related to the ongoing wildfires, the agencyhas previously usedthe alerts to warn about scams related to food stamp card readers, gold bars, fake Oregon attorneys and phone number transfers.
People who believe a fundraising campaign or donation request is fraudulent can reach out to the Oregon Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1‑877‑877‑9392 or go toOregonConsumer.gov.
Here are some other tips and resources state officials have offered:
Call 211 or visit211info.orgto review trusted organizations currently involved in wildfire response, such as the Oregon Community Foundation, Wildland Firefighter Foundation and United Way Pacific Northwest Disaster Recovery Fund.
Never share your Social Security number or financial data with groups you have not verified and review your credit report for any new, unfamiliar accounts.
Verify a contractor’s identity through state licensing boards such as the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. The agency has apublic search systemfor verifying licenses.
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