With hurricane season underway (June 1 to Nov. 30), the IRS is reminding taxpayers that criminals and scammers often try to take advantage of the generosity of business owners and others who want to help victims of major disasters.
Fraudulent schemes normally start with unsolicited contact by telephone, social media, email or in person:
•Some impersonate charities to get money or private information.
•Fake websites use names similar to legitimate charities to trick people to send money or provide personal financial information.
•Others operate bogus charities and solicit money or financial information by telephone or email.
For additional information, see the June 7, 2018, IRS news release: With hurricane season underway, IRS warns of scams related to natural disasters.