Hurricane Charity Scammers Use 100 Million-Household Data to Defraud Donors as Storm Urgency Peaks
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 17
Hurricane Charity Scammers Use 100 Million-Household Data to Defraud Donors as Storm Urgency Peaks
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 17
Summary
Scammers can line up hurricane charity targets before landfall by using bought or public personal data, then exploit disaster urgency with fake relief appeals once storms dominate the news.
A Justice Department case showed how targeted data can fuel fraud: Epsilon used a database covering 100 million U.S. households, and one client stole more than $23.7 million from 218,000 people.
Charity fraud is already costly beyond storm scams, with the FBI logging 662 complaints and $7.9 million in reported losses in 2025; past fake-charity operators also used mailed pitches, robocalls and donor banking details.
FEMA and the FTC warn disasters intensify the risk, including impostors, stolen identities and copycat charities, as the Atlantic hurricane season runs through Nov. 30 and September marks its busiest stretch.
Donors are urged to verify charities through independent watchdogs, avoid links in texts or emails, use credit cards or checks, and review statements after giving.