Attorney General James Reminds New Yorkers to Be Cautious in Charitable Giving When Supporting Victims of Brooklyn Building Collapse

November 13, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today provided guidance to New Yorkers looking to support those who survived a recent collapse of an apartment building in Brooklyn. Attorney General James warns New Yorkers to be wary of sham charities that may take advantage of their concern and bad actors who misrepresent themselves as being associated with a charity or relief efforts. Attorney General James encourages those who encounter potential scams to file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

"My heart breaks for those who lost their lives in this tragic accident and the families who are struggling to recover after losing their homes," said Attorney General James. "Scammers will often use disasters like this to take advantage of those who are trying to help, and I encourage all New Yorkers to follow my office's tips to ensure their donations are effective. As we pray for all those affected, I urge anyone who encounters a scam to report it to my office."

Fraudulent organizations can try to prey on New Yorkers' good intentions, especially following tragic accidents that leave families displaced and in need of immediate financial assistance. New Yorkers should be informed about how to avoid scams as they seek to help those in need. Attorney General James encourages New Yorkers to only give to legitimate organizations. New Yorkers should use the following tips to avoid scams and ensure their charitable donations are safe and effective:

• Solicited by Email? Find Out Who Is Soliciting. If you receive a solicitation by email, find out who is behind that email address. Contact the charity whose name is in the email or visit its website to find out if the email is really from the charity. Do not give personal information or your credit card number in response to an email solicitation unless you have checked out the charity.
  
• Be Careful When Giving Through Social Media or Other Fundraising Sites. Before giving through social media or fundraising sites, research the identity of the organizer of the fundraising efforts and ask the same questions you would of a charity. Online platforms that host groups and individuals soliciting for causes may not thoroughly vet those who use their service. Donors should only give to campaigns conducted by people whom they know. Donors also should take a close look at the site's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Terms and Conditions to see what fees will be charged. Also, don't assume that charities recommended on social media sites, blogs, or other websites have already been vetted. Research the charity to confirm that the charity is aware of the campaign and has given its approval for the use of its name or logo. If available, sign up for updates from the campaign organizer to keep abreast of how contributions to the campaign are being spent.
  
• Check Before Giving. Donate to charities you are familiar with and carefully review information about the charity before you give. Most charities are required to register and file financial reports with OAG's Charities Bureau if they solicit contributions from New Yorkers. Check OAG's website for financial reports of charities or ask the charity directly for its reports.
  
• Ask How Your Donation Will Be Used. Find out how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and individuals your donation will support. Find out more than just the cause. Find out what organization or entity will receive the money and what programs it conducts or what services it provides. Find out how much of the organization's budget supports its mission. All charities have administrative expenses but be wary if these costs outweigh the amount spent on relief.
  
• Look Into Newly Formed Organizations Carefully. Often, in the aftermath of tragedies, new organizations emerge to meet community needs. While most of these organizations are well-intentioned, and some may provide innovative forms of assistance, some may not have the experience or infrastructure to follow through on their promises, and some may turn out to be scams.
  
• Exercise Caution Before You Text a Contribution. Check the charity's website or call the charity to confirm it has authorized contributions to be made via text message.
  
• Don't Give Cash or Gift Cards, or Wire Money. Give directly to the charity either by check made payable to the organization or through the charity's website.
  
• Be Careful About Personal Information. Be cautious before giving credit card or personal information over the phone, by text message, or via the internet. In all cases, make sure you are familiar with the organization to which you give such information and check to see that the fundraising campaign is legitimate.
  
• Report Suspicious Organizations. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work or that a fundraising or charitable scam is taking place, please file a complaint with the Charities Bureau or email [email protected].