BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says scams following the tragic Texas flood are now moving into “phase two.”

WBRC reported earlier this week on how scammers are using the disaster to potentially swipe the money of people who think they are donating to charity .

Now, the experts says criminals are after supplies.

Carl Bates with the BBB of Central and South Alabama has been communicating with BBB chapters in Texas.

Right now, they are urging Alabamians not to bring supplies, like cleaning products, paper towels, and clothes, that direction.

Bates says there is no need, and they have nowhere to store them.

However, he says scammers are collecting these items to hoard themselves or to resell for profit.

“We call them pop-up charities. They’re not full charities that operate 12 months a year and have operated for years, show up to collect these items for supposedly taking them into Texas and then a lot of cases they end up taking them somewhere outside of the Birmingham area and actually remarketing them or selling them or using them for some other purpose,” Bates said. “They don’t end up in Texas with the real survivors who may need that months from now when we want to collect it.”

If Alabamians want to help, Bates recommends donating money to a legitimate charity.

WBRC’s parent company, Gray Media, has partnered with the Salvation Army to support flood relief efforts .

Bates says money can help storm survivors buy food or make hotel accommodations.

Nonprofits can be authenticated on the Better Business Bureau website.

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