Oregonians should exercise significant caution to avoid potential scams when they seek contractors for help to rebuild their homes after a wildfire or support an online fundraising campaign for those who have been affected by the fires, according to state emergency officials.
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management in a press release urged Oregonians to make donations through secure websites and research a contractor’s history before paying for debris removal or home repairs. People should also consider using credit cards instead of cash to ensure transactions are documented, be mindful of door-to-door schemes and verify government workers by requesting their identification, the agency said.
“When disasters strike, Oregonians come together to support neighbors and communities,” the news release reads. “Unfortunately, scammers may try to exploit that generosity by creating fake fundraising campaigns or misrepresenting their intentions. Fraud attempts may come via phone calls, mail, email, text messages, or even in‑person visits.”
Emergency department officials referred to the state Department of Justice’s Charitable Activities website, where Oregonians can verify the authenticity of a nonprofit or professional fundraising firm. The Oregon Department of Justice also operates a scam alert system that state officials encourage people to use. Although it has yet to put out an alert related to the ongoing wildfires, the agency has previously used the alerts to warn about scams related to food stamp card readers, gold bars, fake Oregon attorneys and phone number transfers.
People who believe a fundraising campaign or donation request is fraudulent can reach out to the Oregon Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1‑877‑877‑9392 or go to OregonConsumer.gov.
Here are some other tips and resources state officials have offered:
- Call 211 or visit 211info.org to review trusted organizations currently involved in wildfire response, such as the Oregon Community Foundation, Wildland Firefighter Foundation and United Way Pacific Northwest Disaster Recovery Fund.
- Never share your Social Security number or financial data with groups you have not verified and review your credit report for any new, unfamiliar accounts.
- Verify a contractor’s identity through state licensing boards such as the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. The agency has a public search system for verifying licenses.
Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Shumway for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
