ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – After last week’s severe storms swept through the St. Louis area, scammers are now targeting St. Charles County residents and other states, impersonating Habitat for Humanity.

Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County is warning residents about imposters claiming to represent them. 

These scammers are contacting people through phone calls, texts and social media, asking for personal information and even falsely offering free roofing services.

“We were alarmed when we learned that scammers were using the good reputation of habitat for humanity, said Michelle Woods, executive director of Habitat for Humanity. People learned to trust Habitat for Humanity and the good work we are doing in the community and so we were disappointed that it could be used to hurt someone else.”

Locally, the St. Charles affiliate has seen this scam mostly on Facebook, but the threat is real, and habitat is urging residents to be cautious.

“Habitat For Humanity has over 1,200 local affiliates throughout the United States and this is a scam they are seeing in other states right now,” Woods said.

Habitat for humanity is a trusted name, helping families furnish homes on a budget and build new lives.

One customer is thankful for the organization.

“They’ve been a blessing to me. I was able to furnish my home on a tight budget after moving here to Missouri,” John Walsh, a customer, said. “They’ve just gone above and beyond.”

Walsh expressed frustration that scammers are trying to discredit the organization he loves. 

Unfortunately, robocalls and scams are on the rise, with over 2.4 billion scam-related calls recorded in February alone, according to youmail, the nation’s best robocall-blocking solution. 

To help spot scams, FOX 2 spoke with the Better Business Bureau.

“If you feel like they are pushing you to do something this minute, take a step back (and) ask again who they’re with,” said Sarah Wetzel, director of Communications for Better Business Bureau. “Ask for contact information, but at the end of the day, what you really need to do is contact that organization directly.”

BBB recommends checking their scam tracker here to see if a scam has been reported in your area or to report one yourself.

If you’ve experienced storm damage, remember to contact your insurance company directly. Never pay anyone upfront until an official claims adjuster has inspected your property

If you think you’ve been targeted by scammers posing as habitat for humanity, contact them directly at 636-978-5712.