The death toll from catastrophic flooding in central Texas rose to 90 on Monday, July 7, as rescue teams continue to search for signs of life, USA TODAY reports.
And among the dead are at least 27 children and counselors from Camp Mystic, a beloved all-girls summer camp in Kerr County, where the worst of the flooding happened. At least 10 girls and one counselor remain missing, said Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha at a news conference Monday.
If you’re looking for some way to help, you can always donate to charities assisting with the relief work. But beware the charities you support. Some may not be passing your money along.
Here’s how to watch for scams and support the right relief agencies.
The worst Ohio floods in history
How to avoid charity or disaster fraud when trying to help Texas flood victims
According to the FBI, charity fraud schemes seek money for organizations that do little or no work on disaster relief. Instead, that money is funneled to the charity’s creator.
You may receive solicitations for fraudulent charities through email, social media, cold calls, crowdfunding platforms and more. The FBI advises using caution and doing your research when looking to donate to charitable causes.
The agency offers the following tips:
Give to established charities or groups you know and trust.
Be aware of organizations with copycat names or names similar to reputable organizations.
Be wary of new organizations that claim to aid victims of recent high-profile disasters.
Give using a check or credit card. If a charity or organization asks you to donate through cash, gift card, virtual currency or wire transfer, it’s probably a scam.
Don’t click links or open email attachments from someone you don’t know.
Don’t provide any personal information in response to an email, robocall, or robotext.
Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, Kerr County Relief Fund, GoFundMe raising money for Texas disaster relief
USA TODAY has a list of reputable charities helping with flooding relief in Texas. They include:
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Giving to Camp Mystic, Texas flooding relief efforts? Beware of scams