(NASHVILLE, Tenn. )— As communities across Tennessee recover from devastating tornadoes and flooding, Secretary of State Tre Hargett warned Tennesseans to remain vigilant about potential scams as they consider supporting those impacted.
“Tennesseans are among the most generous supporters of charitable causes, and too often, bad actors target their good faith, kindness, and generosity during these extremely difficult situations,” said Secretary Hargett. “Anyone considering donating to support what will likely be a long recovery process needs to be an educated consumer with their gift. If citizens have questions about an organization’s legitimacy or objective, please contact our office at 615-741-2555.”
Citizens considering a charitable donation are encouraged to do their research and ensure an individual or entity is registered with the state through the Secretary of State’s website. They should also resist pressure to give immediately and ask questions about an entity’s specific mission and who benefits from their donation. If anyone donates through an app or website, they should make sure their information goes directly to the organization…