Ohio Department of Commerce Warns Donors to Do Research When Supporting Hurricane Melissa Relief Efforts

COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions is urging caution if you’re considering donating to those affected by Hurricane Melissa.

Ohio was recently named the 16th most giving state in the U.S. by Wallethub for charitable contributions, however fraudsters may be seeking to capitalize off that generosity.

Robert Rutkowski, the Deputy Superintendent of the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions, says the first and most important thing to do before donating is to double check that where you’re sending your money is legitimate.

“And if it is a legitimate charity, that the person who’s contacted you is actually from the charity.” Rutkowski said. “So donating to it directly, even if you’ve gotten a text or you’ve received an email, reach out to the charity directly and that way you can ensure that you’re not being scammed by a third party who’s co-opping on the charity’s name.”

This has become a very big problem in recent years; according to the Division, back in 2024 the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 4,500 complaints reporting they lost approximately $96 Million between fraudulent charity scams, crowdfunding accounts and disaster relief campaigns.

Many of these situations start from an imposter scam, where a fraudster pretends to be a trusted organization and tricks well meaning donors into sending money to them instead of to those who truly need it.

“The number one red flag in virtually all types of fraud against individuals is creating a sense of urgency.” Rutkowski said. “If someone is creating a sense of urgency for you to donate, that’s a gigantic red flag and strongly indicates that you’re being taken advantage of.”

You can verify the charity you’re donating to is legitimate by heading to either the BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance or Charity Watch.