Have you gotten a call from a charity that seems a bit fishy?  Before you send money, you many want to check things out.

Though the caller may claim to be from a well known charity, it could be a scam.

Many of us have gotten calls from charities asking for our support and the good news is that alot of these calls are legitimate.

However, we occasionally hear from consumers who have been duped by scam artists who claim to be collecting money for charities that support breast cancer, local police, or charities for the poor or disadvantaged.

How do you know if you are being scammed or not?

Here are some tell tale signs:

• The caller id on your phone is blocked or lists a name that seems odd or unfamiliar.

• The caller seems very casual, overly friendly, using your first name, and acting as if they have personally known you for years.

• The information they provide is vague, and they seem to have trouble answering simple questions, like a phone number or address that you can contact them at.

• High pressure tactics are used to get you to commit to a donation or provide personal information.

If you get a call from a charity that sounds suspicious, do not make a donation or offer support until you can check things out with reputable sources, such as consumer agencies, your local police department, or a local office for the named charity.

For more information about how to check out a charity, contact charitynavigator.org.