LA Fire Donation Scams Are Everywhere. Here’s How To Spot Them.

When disaster strikes, unfortunately, so do scammers. And the Los Angeles wildfires are no exception.

Yesterday, Kim Kardashian warned her followers about fraudsters pretending to be her and presenting fake wildfire relief fundraisers in order to collect their cash. Victims who’ve lost their homes have also reported fake crowdfunding campaigns using their photos and information to scam would-be donors.

“Scams tend to proliferate during disasters because they create a perfect combination of vulnerability and urgency,” said Lisa Plaggemier, the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s executive director. “Scammers exploit the chaos and heightened emotions to trick victims into rash decisions.”

She added that opportunistic cybercriminals seek to capitalize on people’s distress during difficult times ― as well as the generosity of those witnessing the distress.

“Scams prey on the public’s innate want to help out when they see someone else in need, and disasters trigger a sense of urgency that makes helpers less cautious than they would be normally,” said Mary James, a Los Angeles native and contributor to the digital security and online privacy resource All About Cookies.

Who’s behind these sickening scams? Just like fraud, the reality is that cybercriminals can come in many forms and operate through a wide spectrum of sources.

“It could be local individuals who are taking advantage of the situation, or it could be transnational organized crime syndicates,” said Ally Armeson, executive director of programs at the Cybercrime Support Network. “Also, it’s important to remember these scams will range from simple to highly sophisticated.”

To help people avoid falling victim to scams amid the devastation of the wildfires, HuffPost asked security experts to break down the most common disaster-related scams, how to spot them and what steps you can take to protect yourself.

“Many of the scams right now are for donations toward California wildfire victims or first responder agencies,” James explained. “Typically, someone will reach out with a link in an email, text message or social media post and ask the public for donations. It may even look like a legitimate organization.”

She emphasized that anyone can create a fake website that spoofs a real charity, buy a list of emails or phone numbers on the dark web and push out their scam link. Inexperienced cybercriminals can even purchase phishing toolkits and templates to easily facilitate their fraud.

“Scammers may send messages claiming to be from FEMA, [the] Red Cross or local government asking for personal information or donations,” Armeson noted. “Or scammers will create fake charities by designing convincing websites or social media accounts posing as disaster relief organizations looking for donations.”

In addition to phishing emails and imposter scams, you might also come across fake rental listings for displaced residents or fake crowdfunding campaigns on real platforms.

“Scammers may steal pictures or information from legitimate crowdfunding campaigns, which can make it difficult to research and confirm which campaign is legitimate,” Armeson said.

Wildfire victims should be on the lookout for fraudsters pretending to be contractors, insurance adjusters or government officials offering assistance on the ground.

“Scammers might offer fake services, such as debris removal or home repairs, taking payment upfront and then disappearing without completing the work,” explained Brittany Allen, a trust and safety architect at Sift. “Fraudsters also will not hesitate to use man’s best friend as their bait. In one scam, they post pictures of animals to social media with false information about them being injured in the LA fires and requiring emergency surgery, complete with a donation link.”

In even more disturbing cases, a scammer might contact someone with a missing pet and pose as a trusted authority with “urgent news” about their animal, she added. Then, they demand the owner send a large sum of money to cover the veterinary care, threatening that if they don’t, their pet will be immediately euthanized.

“The public should also be wary of identity and insurance scams targeted at the victims of the fires as well as any potential attempt to steal the deed to land that’s been affected,” James added.

“The signs of a scam include unsolicited communications that demand immediate action, poor grammar and spelling in emails or messages, caller IDs that mimic legitimate entities but are slightly altered, and high-pressure tactics urging you to act quickly without time to think or consult others,” Plaggemier noted.

If you didn’t initiate the contact, proceed with caution. Can you verify that you’re speaking to the person or organization they claim to be?

“A public figure like the governor of California or a celebrity is likely not emailing or texting individuals, especially if they’ve never signed up for information from that person,” James noted.

It’s normal to want to do a little investigating before you send any personal information or money.

“If the individual you are speaking with is pushy or aggressive in their solicitation, be cautious,” Armeson advised. “They may also discourage you from doing your research or asking questions. No legitimate organization will rush you to donate or discourage verification.”

Pay attention to the requested payment method, as scammers tend to prefer less secure modes so that it is more difficult to recover lost funds.

“If you’re asked to donate using a gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, that’s a red flag,” Armeson said. “Legitimate charities will give you the option to pay by credit card or check.”

Armeson similarly noted that government agencies and aid organizations will not ask disaster victims for payments upfront in exchange for help.

“If as a victim, you’re asked to pay upfront for disaster relief services or in order to expedite relief, that’s a red flag,” she said. “Another is if you are asked to provide personal information such as your Social Security number or bank account number. No legitimate charity will ask for this information.”

Look out for the visual clues to a scam, like poor grammar or spelling, or a suspicious email address or URLs.

“If someone clicks the link from a text or email and sees a donation page pop up for a charity like the California Fire Foundation, it should then be cross-referenced to an internet search for the same organization,” James said. “If the link doesn’t redirect to that exact site with the exact spelling, it’s a scam.”

Look for the closed padlock symbol next to the URL in your browser to indicate the website’s security.

“The URL should be prefaced by https:// rather than http://,” James noted. “The ‘s’ means it’s secure.”

With so many potential tip-offs for fraud, the best way to protect yourself from scammers as a disaster victim is to proceed with caution and take time to verify the validity of any organizations or individuals you encounter. Resources like the California Office of the Attorney General’s charities page, the Better Business Bureau and other institutions’ official websites can aid your research.

“Only seek assistance from trusted, well established sources,” Armeson advised. “Ask any aid workers, contractors or government representatives you come in contact with for identification like a badge with photo and organization details. Look to make sure they have some sort of uniform or branded clothing, vehicles, or paperwork like licenses, permits, certifications.”

If someone claims to be from a well-known agency or nonprofit like the American Red Cross, she recommended confirming that person’s identity by calling the organization’s official phone number or conferring with emergency management officers or local police on the ground.

“Avoid giving out information on phone calls you did not initiate,” James advised. “If the person on the other end of the line threatens you with the loss of funds or property, hang up, look up the contact information for the agency that the person claimed to be from, and contact them through verified channels on their website. It’s better to double check and cross reference than be the victim of a scam after being the victim of a disaster.”

Operate with a healthy dose of skepticism. Don’t share banking or personal information or make payments through non-secure methods. Consider whether identity theft protection makes sense for you.

“Disaster victims can protect themselves by checking for signs of phishing, such as suspicious email addresses or links,” Allen noted.

Keep in mind that phishing scams have also gotten more sophisticated.

“These messages can seem legitimate and quite convincing now that many scammers have access to generative AI tools,” Armeson said. “Remember, just because a message is free of spelling and grammar errors does not mean it’s legitimate.”

She also urged disaster victims to be aware of their emotional states.

“Know when to take a pause and wait to make a decision,” Armeson advised. “We tend to think we’ll be able to see a scam coming, and many times, when things are going well and we’re not going through a terrible trauma, or we’re not distracted or stressed, we can see a scam for what it is.”

But in times of difficulty like the aftermath of a disaster, people understandably feel emotional and stressed ― not an ideal state for spotting a scam.

“If you have friends or family that can help you, please reach out to them first for assistance if possible,” Armeson said. “They can at least be a trusted network that can help you research and decide where to go for help. And sometimes our friends and family can see a scam when we can’t because they aren’t caught up in the manipulation tactics scammers use. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for a second opinion.”

“People and businesses looking to aid with disaster relief can protect themselves by conducting thorough research on the organizations they plan to support,” Allen noted. “They can check the legitimacy of charitable organizations by looking at Charity Watch and Charity Navigator.”

As with disaster victims, she advised conducting research to verify any unsolicited communications or donation requests. Ensure you’re donating to reputable organizations.

“You can also type the organization’s name in any online search engine along with the words ‘reviews’ or ‘scams’ and see if anyone has reviewed or complained about the charity,” Armeson said. “Please don’t let your desire to help cause you to make a quick decision.”

You can safely donate to a lesser-known organization if you have a familiarity or personal relationship with it.

“For instance, Saint Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church in Koreatown is an evacuation center, so Orthodox Christian churches across the country are holding fundraisers to send resources to St. Sophia’s,” James explained. “The church leaders and priests are able to personally connect with St. Sophia’s leaders and know it’s a legitimate place to send assistance.”

If you want to donate to a crowdfunding effort, she noted that it’s best to seek out verified campaigns on official platforms like GoFundMe, which offers fraud protection.

“Avoid sending money directly to individuals unless their claims can be verified,” Plaggemier said, adding that “keeping detailed records of all donations and transactions and using secure and traceable methods of payment is essential.”

Again, credit cards and services like PayPal offer scam protection ― unlike gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. And above all, “Remember to trust your intuition,” James said.

“If a donation request looks vague or doesn’t feel right, it’s OK to say ‘no’ and find a different organization,” James said, adding that disaster efforts last long after the immediate danger has passed. “While most scams are opportunistic, wanting to capitalize on the immediacy of the issue, long-term scams can also surface days, months, or even years after the disaster.”

That’s why continued diligence is essential. Keep up with the latest fraud cases and approaches.

“For those of us who are unaffected by the disaster, take a minute to educate your loved ones about not just disaster relief scams, but all scams,” Armeson advised. “We do not teach our children scam awareness and internet safety as much as we should. This is a great moment to point out a specific scam type and show them the red flags to watch out for.”

Try to warn peers, parents and grandparents about common fraud tactics and how to recognize them as well.

As Armeson noted, “A two- to three-minute conversation can stop a loved one from getting affected by a scam in the future.”