Beware of Sandy-related schemes

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - People in nine states are still trying to restore basic services and get back to normal after Superstorm Sandy. Closer to home, some are stepping up to organize relief efforts.

But as more volunteer to lend a helping hand, the Attorney General is warning Hoosiers about Sandy scammers.

It’s personal for Shelbyville resident, Amy Scott. Her husband and friends live in a small town hit hard. Pictures she shared with us show damaged business, swallowed streets and boats stacked against houses.

Scott organized a drive collect cleaning supplies. She collected mops, bleach, baby wipes and bottled water Thursday on Public Square in Shelbyville.

“The stores are not open. I got a call from a friend last night saying there was a fist fight over cleaning supplies,” Scott said.

Scott says she had permission from the city to collect from those willing to donate.

But representatives with the Attorney General’s office issued a warning: Don’t be defrauded by Sandy scammer.

“There are a lot of dishonest people out there,” Terry Tolliver said, “They will use tragedy in order to profit at your expense.”

In a statement the released Thursday the office warns of individuals posing as representatives of cable TV companies or Internet service providers who might call and claim customers will receive a billing credit due to supposed outages caused by Hurricane Sandy and then ask for the customer’s bank account information.

Such fraudulent calls are known as “phishing” scams. To avoid identity theft or fraudulent withdrawals from their bank accounts, consumers should never give their account information over the phone to anyone unless the consumer initiates the call.

These are additional tips offered for donating, to avoid being scammed:

Make donations to established organizations with a strong track record of organizing and providing disaster relief.

Initiate the donation yourself, rather than responding to online or phone solicitations.

Use the web site www.CharityNavigator.org to assist in identifying relief organizations and determining how much of their donations are used to help victims rather than on administrative overhead.

To confirm an online donation site is secure so that your financial information won’t be improperly accessed during the transaction, look for “https” in the organization’s website.

Avoid door-to-door solicitors or offers from charities to stop by a consumer’s home to pick up a check. These too could be fraudulent.

If you believe you have been contacted by a fraudulent charity, call the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office fraud hotline at 317-327-5396 to make a report.

Back where our story began, Scott’s father plans to deliver the items collected Friday.