Watch Out for These Scams in the Wake of Hurricane Harvey. Harvey has been an unprecedented stormfirst as a hurricane and now lingering as a tropical stormbringing epic loss and destruction to the Texas Coast. Whether youve been affected or youre looking to help those who have been, beware of these scams in the storms aftermath. Spot Scams That Prey on Storm Victims. This is probably a tumultuous and terrifying time for you, but make sure you dont let that cloud your judgement when it comes to getting back on your feet. Consumerist has your back with advice for avoiding fraudulent help. Finding out the weather is something most of us do every day, so why not do it in style Here are the best weather apps and weather widgets for AndroidIn order to help you find only the best apps that have been released in the last month, we have assembled this list. If you want to track a hurricane, this app does exactly what it says on the tin. The Weather Channel provides Hurricane Tracker as a standalone service that includes. Hurricane updates and news for Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero and more of the Southwest Florida area. Tracking Hurricane paths and possible impacts for the. Hurricane Harvey has brought tremendous flooding and damage to the Texas area. Beyond thoseRead more Read. If youve been displaced by Harvey, watch out for schemes that prey on people desperate for new housing. Never pay a deposit or credit check fee before youve seen the place youd be renting, dont rent from someone youve never seen or met, and dont ever give your bank account information, credit card number, or bank wire info over the phone or internet. Home repair scams are also likely to proliferate after a disaster like this one. If at all possible, find a contractor through a recommendation, with someone you know to vouch for their work. And dont rush into thingsget multiple bids, set an agreement in writing, and make sure your contractor is insured, so you wont be liable for any accidents that may happen. Finally, beware of anyone claiming FEMA endorsement or certificationthats a thing that just doesnt exist. Beware of Shady CharitiesUnless youre responding to a specific request, donate money instead of suppliesits often more efficient for aid organizations to buy their own materials than cobble together cast offs. And watch out for scamsin the wake of a disaster, as grifters may try to prey on the very real sense of urgency for help. Consumerist offers some crucial suggestions for avoiding this, especially if the alleged charity reaches out to you call the charity to verify the solicitation, beware of new charities that pop into existence in the wake of a crisis, donate via credit card rather than cash, and always trust your gut. Charity Navigator is a great resource for vetting nonprofits weve collected a few trustworthy charities responding to Harvey here. Hurricane Harveys heavy rains and strong winds have already caused a tremendous amount of damageRead more Read. Avoid Spreading Fake News. Were all hungry for information, whether its the latest news, a heartwarming story, or a photograph that powerfully conveys the storms impact. But beware of shocking, shareable images that are, if not too good, too strange to be true. We saw this with the shark who most certainly was not swimming up a street post Sandy Harveys got its own fake highway shark now, too. All of the guidelines for spotting fake viral stories apply.