AG James warns of charity scams in wake of devastating earthquake in Colombia
State Attorney General Letitia James urged New Yorkers Thursday to be cautious and carefully vet their charitable donations to avoid bad actors and scams as New Yorkers look to rally funding behind relief efforts in the wake of Monday’s devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia.
She reminded those who wish to support the aid efforts that scammers are especially active following national disasters and released tips for ensuring New Yorkers’ generosity winds up in safe and effective hands.
“My heart breaks for all those impacted by this devastating earthquake in Colombia and their families and loved ones at home here in New York,” said James. “As New Yorkers generously seek to support relief efforts, I urge them to be careful of sham charities and make sure they are giving to trustworthy organizations and groups.”
The massive quake happened in the Northwest region of Colombia at around 7:30 Monday morning. As of Thursday, the death toll surpassed 280 people, with hundreds still unaccounted for in the hardest hit areas.
For thousands of New Yorkers, particularly in Queens, where the Colombian population is over 75,000, according to the Department of City Planning, the disaster is personal. Colombian New Yorkers in Jackson Heights, home to “little Colombia,” organized local drives and relief efforts collecting donations like hygiene products, emergency supplies, baby supplies and first aid products.
But in the online age, James reminded New Yorkers to think twice before trusting an unverified email, website, or social media post soliciting donations for the relief effort. The states’ legal watchdog said that it’s worth the extra effort to do a little research before providing any personal information or credit card details.
Even if a friend, family member, neighbor or influencer suggests a specific charity, James said not to assume that they’ve done their research— always verify. Tools and organizations like the Charity Watch, Charity Navigator and ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer can help donors assess potential charitable organizations.
James also encouraged New Yorker to report suspicious charities.
“I encourage anyone who experiences any issues when donating to contact my office,” she said.
Here are a few ways to give:
Colombian Red Cross
On the ground, emergency services
CARE
Established presence in the country focused on ending hunger and poverty
United Nations Regional Humanitarian Fund
A pooled fund managed by the UN and directed to trusted local partner NGOs
Global Giving
A managed fund distributed directly to local organizations
World Central Kitchen
Provides food and water to people impacted by the earthquake