FTC Advice for Hurricane Victims and People Who Want to Help

The Federal Trade Commission has information for people affected by Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, and for those who want to contribute to relief efforts.

If you’d like to donate money to a charity, the FTC blog post, Make your hurricane donations count, describes how to make sure your dollars go to the causes you support. See the infographic, How to Verify a Hurricane Relief Charity, for a summary of this information.

After natural disasters, unlicensed contractors and scammers often promise clean-up and debris removal, but some of them want payment up-front for work they never do, and others lack the skills, licenses, and insurance to legally do the work. The blog post, Avoid hurricane clean-up scams, has tips to protect yourself, your property, and your money. See the infographic, The Scam: What to Do, for a summary of this information.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.