In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the Better Business Bureau offers tips to help consumers identify scams following natural disasters.

National crises prompt scammers to act quickly in order to profit off of the state of the nation. Scammers prey on victims’ emotions and vulnerability in the wake of national crisis and natural disasters, and BBB advises donors to be mindful when considering giving money to relief organizations.

Fraudulent charities are also known to pop up when disasters or crises occur, while credible charities are established organizations with longevity.

Scammers posing as natural disaster relief organizations commonly use official-sounding titles to deceive donors into thinking their charity is credible. Just because the name of the relief fund sounds realistic, does not mean that it is a credible charity.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and GoFundMe are both credible resource pages for consumers to visit when considering donating to Hurricane Dorian Relief.

BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance offers additional tips for consumers that are considering donating to a charity, nonprofit, or crowdfunding. Wise Giving Alliance is a resource for donors to ensure that their donation will count. If you are considering donating to a charity in response to a natural disaster, visit Give.org for more information and resources before you donate.

The following BBB tips will help you outsmart scammers that take advantage of natural disasters and crises:

– Use Give.org’s charity directory to cross-check charities that appear in the media. BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance’s directory includes 11,000 reports on charities. Conducting research ensures you donate your money to a charity that is ethical and making an impact. For more tips for giving to disaster relief charities from BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance, click here.

– Donate to established charities that you already know about. Fake charities pop up in the midst of crisis or natural disaster and can appear legitimate with an official-sounding name or website. When looking to donate, find charities that are established. If you are looking for recommendations of credible charities, consider Wise Giving Alliance’s list of credible charities responding to Hurricane Dorian here.

– Don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Although hurricanes and natural disasters can incite vulnerability, be mindful of charities with a strong emotional appeal. Scammers will use donor’s emotions and vulnerability to get their money, so exercise caution and think critically when choosing your charity.

– Determine what the charity will do with your donation. Phony charities make empty or vague promises about what they do with donation money. Make sure that the charity is clear and specific about where your money is going. Visit give.org to research credible charities, and look for charities that clearly disclose what they will do with your donation.

– Report scams to BBB Scam Tracker to help warn others about fraudulent companies. If you see an advertisement that looks fake, you can report it to BBB AdTruth. If you have an issue with a business, you can file a complaint at bbb.org.