Watch For Wildfire Relief Scams

As Oregonians come to the aid of their neighbors who have been impacted by this record wildfire season, experts are reminding people to beware of disaster-related scams.  According to a 2024 survey, the Census Bureau found over three quarters of disaster survivors experienced a possible scam within a month of the event.

Paul Griffo with AARP Oregon’s fraud prevention campaign said if you want to avoid a scam, do some research before giving away money or personal information.

"The key is the same for these type of scams as all scams, and that is we ask people to pause and actively think about the actions they're taking," Griffo said,.  "And in reflecting on that, they're protecting themselves."

Griffo added it's also important to be on the lookout for phony charities.  Crowd-funding sites like GoFundMe are helpful tools, but people need to double check the sites are real.  He said people can verify charities at sites like CharityNavigator.org

Griffo adds anyone can be a victim of fraud.

“The long-term impact is both emotional as well as financial. So, let's work together as a community and support each other," he continued.

Griffo added help is available to anyone who is concerned about scams, through AARP’s Fraud Watch Network. 

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