CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Many people have seen the devastation brought on by Hurricane Irma and want to know how to help those who have lost everything in the monstrous storm.
Action 9 investigator Jason Stoogenke said the best way to help is to donate money.
He said the best way is use a check or credit card, so if there is a problem with the charity it will be easier for donors to get their money back.
Stoogenke said pick a charity that has boots on the ground in the disaster area.
Find a reputable charity:
Some people want to send money to crowdfunding sites because they believe that will help certain victims more directly. But Better Business Bureau President Tom Bartholomy said be careful.
“The problem comes in when you see a hundred GoFundme pages pop up with compelling stories, with compelling pictures, and you go, ‘Yeah, I want to help them.’ You just don’t know,” Bartholomy said.
Stoogenke said beware of scams and con artists posing as charities. He said one rule of thumb is to be suspicious of ones that contact people out of the blue and ask for money.