Texas flood: Beware of scammers, FBI warns donors

Two U.S agencies, along with the FBI, have warned potential donors wishing to aid victims of Hurricane Harvey that unscrupulous scammers may set up shop in the storm’s wake.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) warned that phishing scams and bogus e-mail solicitations may target potential givers.
US-CERT warned users to be cautious when handling unsolicited e-mails with subject lines, hyperlinks, and attachments related to Hurricane Harvey. And the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday issued a reminder to be vigilant about potentially fraudulent activity on the heels of a disaster.

“E-mails requesting donations from duplicitous charitable organizations commonly appear after major natural disasters,” said US-CERT, an organization within the Department of Homeland Security that analyzes and responds to emerging cyber threats.
“Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight in connection with current events,” the FTC warned.