IRS Warns Taxpayers of Charity Scams in Wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene

The Internal Revenue Service has issued a warning to taxpayers about the risk of charity scams that have emerged in the wake of Hurricanes Milton and Helene. These scams often target well-meaning donors looking to support victims of natural disasters, with fraudsters using fake charities to steal personal and financial information. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel emphasized the importance of caution when donating. "Many people want to help survivors and their families by donating to charities," Werfel said. "Too often criminals take advantage of would-be donors’ kindness by stealing money and personal information from well-meaning taxpayers. You should never feel pressured by solicitors to immediately give to a charity. It’s important to do the research to verify if they’re authentic first." The IRS highlighted the availability of the Tax-Exempt Organization Search (TEOS) tool on its website, which can help donors verify the legitimacy of a charity. This tool allows individuals to chec...