How To Figure Out If A Charity Might Be A Scam It's not just home-repair scams that pop up in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy. There will also be grade-A-holes out there trying to trick consumers out of money by pretending to be raising money to help those hurt by the storm. And of course there will also be legitimate charities looking to raise money to aid those affected by the hurricane, so it's best that consumers know how to tell the real ones from the liars. The anti-scam folks at the Federal Trade Commission have this checklist for dealing with a possible charity to make sure you're not getting hosed: Don't be shy about asking who wants your money. If you're solicited for a donation, ask if the caller is a paid fundraiser, who they work for, and the percentage of your donation that will go to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don't get a clear answer -- or if you don't like the answer you get -- consider donating to a different organization. Call the charity. Find out if the organization is aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name. If not, you may be dealing with a scam artist. Ask for written information about the charity. This includes its full name, address, and telephone number. Contact the office that regulates charitable organizations and charitable solicitations in your state, The National Association of State Charity Officials has contact