Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is asking Minnesotans to be vigilant when donating to charities to avoid giving money to a scam.

"Minnesotans are generous people at regular times. At this extraordinary time, we're more inclined than ever to help others," Ellison said in a statement. "That's a noble impulse and the best of who we are — but we also have to be careful. I'm asking every Minnesotan to exercise caution when donating to charitable causes that claim to help with the COVID-19 outbreak. We all want to make sure that our money goes to people who will use to do right by people, not to line their own pockets."