A hurricane-season scammer can start the day with coffee and a spreadsheet. That spreadsheet may hold names, ages, addresses, phone numbers and family details. A scammer might buy that information, pull it from people-search sites or piece it together from public sources.
That means hurricane charity scams can start before a storm even hits. By the time a hurricane dominates the news, a fraudster may already know who could respond to a donation pitch.
September is National Preparedness Month, and this year’s theme is “Americans Stand Ready.” While FEMA urges you to make an emergency plan and build a kit, scammers are looking for ways to turn a disaster into a payday.
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Charity scammers do not have to wait for a disaster to start looking for targets. Data brokers and marketers have spent years collecting information about where people live, what they buy and how they respond to solicitations.
One Justice Department case shows how dangerous that kind of targeting can become. Epsilon Data Management used transactional data and a database covering 100 million U.S. households to identify “responsive buyers.” Prosecutors said two executives, Robert Reger and David Lytle, spent about a decade knowingly selling targeted lists to fraudsters.
One client used those lists to defraud more than 218,000 people out of over $23.7 million. More than 12,000 victims got hit more than 20 times. A judge sentenced Reger to 10 years in prison and Lytle to four years. Epsilon also paid $150 million in penalties and victim compensation, with $122 million returned to more than 200,000 victims.
The Epsilon prosecution focused on mass-mailing fraud rather than hurricane charity scams. Still, it shows how personal data and behavioral signals can help fraudsters choose targets before a pitch lands.
Separate FBI data shows the cost of charity fraud. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded 662 charity complaints and $7,907,609 in reported losses in 2025.
A scammer does not need a history of bad donations to target you. Fraudsters can reach people through purchased lists, public records, robocalls and other marketing channels.
James Trankle ran three fake charities, including the “Disabled and Paralyzed Veterans Fund,” the “National Breast Cancer Awareness Fund” and the “Children’s Leukemia of America Fund.” He mailed solicitations to thousands of people and collected more than 1,600 personal checks. Then he used donor banking information to create counterfeit checks. Many victims were older adults. A judge sentenced him to five years in prison.
Travis Peterson ran a six-year scheme using millions of robocalls and other outreach to solicit donations for sham veterans’ charities. Prosecutors said he often targeted senior citizens. A judge sentenced him to 41 months in prison and ordered him to pay $541,032.10 in restitution.
These cases show why an unexpected charity pitch deserves a closer look, especially when the caller already knows personal details about you.
Natural disasters create urgency and confusion while bringing out people’s desire to help. Scammers know that. After Hurricane Helene, FEMA warned that thieves may try to use stolen names, addresses and Social Security numbers to apply for assistance in other people’s names. FEMA also warned residents to be alert for impostors posing as inspectors or disaster workers.
The FTC has warned that scammers quickly exploit weather emergencies with fake charities and copycat organizations. Some imitate real charity names or create websites that appear tied to a disaster.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic hurricane season runs through November 30, and NOAA identifies September 10 as the climatological peak. That puts National Preparedness Month right in the middle of the busiest part of the season. If you want to see how much personal information may be exposed online, a free scan can help you find some of the data that appears on broker and people-search sites. Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com/FreeScan
You can still be generous. The key is slowing down long enough to verify who wants your money and taking a few steps to protect yourself before you donate.
Look it up on Charity Navigator, BBB Wise Giving Alliance at Give.org, CharityWatch or the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Avoid links in unexpected texts or emails. Instead, go directly to the charity’s official website.
The FTC warns that scammers may insist on cash, gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency. If you donate, a credit card or check gives you more protection and a clearer paper trail.
A demand to donate immediately should make you stop and verify the organization before sending money. Legitimate charities will give you time to research them and decide whether you want to give.
Scammers may use names that sound like established charities or web addresses that differ by only a few characters. Before donating, check the spelling of the charity’s name and make sure you are on its official website.
5) Do not trust donation links in texts, emails or social media posts
A donation request can look convincing even when it comes from a compromised account or impersonates a real charity. Do not assume a fundraiser is legitimate because a friend shared it. Go directly to the charity’s official website instead of clicking the donation link and use strong antivirus software to help protect you from malicious links, phishing sites and malware that may be hiding behind fraudulent donation requests.
Review your credit card or bank statement after making a donation. Confirm that you were charged only the amount you approved and check that you were not signed up for recurring donations you did not intend to make. Keep the receipt or confirmation for your records.
If something feels wrong, report it. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or the FBI at ic3.gov. You can also call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360.
Verifying every charity request helps, but your personal information may already be available through data brokers and people-search sites. Removing that data can make it harder for scammers to build a detailed profile around you and use personal details to make a pitch seem believable.
One option is to use a personal data removal service that can contact data brokers and people-search sites on your behalf. These services can help reduce how much of your information is publicly available and may continue monitoring for data that reappears over time. You can also make removal requests yourself, although that process can take more time and repeated follow-up.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
Hurricane charity scams work because disasters create urgency while personal data makes scam pitches more believable. The Epsilon case shows how fraudsters can use targeted consumer lists, while the Trankle and Peterson cases show how fake charities can exploit people who want to help. FEMA and the FTC continue to warn that scammers take advantage of disasters and stolen personal information. Before you donate, verify the organization independently, slow down when someone pressures you and use a payment method that gives you better protection. Reducing the amount of personal information available through data brokers can also make it harder for scammers to build a detailed profile around you. You cannot stop hurricane season, but you can make yourself a harder target.
Have you ever received a disaster-relief donation request that made you suspicious? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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