How to help:

Assisting people and their pets, while avoiding scam artists.

Hurricane Harvey and the ensuing floods in southeast Texas have opened the hearts and wallets of Americans who want to help. It has also drawn from the woodwork the usual lineup of online hustlers, telephone con men and boiler-room money grubbers.

HELP FOR VICTIMS

Established charities seeking donations for flood victims:

American Red Cross: The easiest way to give to the go-to crisis charity is through its website at www.redcross.org. The Salvation Army: www.salvationarmyusa.org The Houston Food Bank: www.houstonfoodbank.org

AmeriCares: It provides survivors with medicines and supplies: http://bit.ly/2wEFgpW

ANIMALS

To help pets that have been victimized by the disaster: Houston Humane Society: www.houstonhumane.org San Antonio Humane Society: https://sahumane.org/

AVOID SCAMS

Reports of fraudulent online and telephone solicitation have been reported. One that has spread rapidly is an email claiming to provide a link to the National Guard but that is linked, instead, to an insurance broker. Here are ways to avoid being taken:

Charity Navigator: Lists organizations that are responding to the crisis at http://bit.ly/2ggTc2O.

Federal Trade Commission: Provides advice for avoiding scams at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/08/wisegiving-wake-hurricane-harvey