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In the wake of the flooding in Colorado, the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, urges people to be wary of .

If you’re looking for a way to give, do some research to ensure that your donation will go to a reputable organization.  Urgent appeals that you get in person, by phone or mail, by e-mail, on websites, or on social networking sites may not be on the up-and-up. Unfortunately, legitimate charities face competition from fraudsters who either solicit for bogus charities or aren't entirely honest about how a so-called charity will use your contribution.

If you’re asked to make a charitable donation to support victims of the flooding in Colorado, consider these tips:

• Donate to charities you know and trust.  Be alert for charities that seem to have sprung up overnight in connection with current events.
• Ask if a caller is a paid fundraiser, who they work for, and what percentage of your donation goes to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don’t get a clear answer – or if you don’t like the answer – consider donating to a different organization.
• Don’t give out personal or financial information – including your credit card or bank account number – a unless you know the charity is reputable.
• Never send cash: you can’t be sure the organization will receive your donation, and you won’t have a record for tax purposes.
• Check out the charity with the Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance (bbb.org/us/charity), Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), Charity Watch (charitywatch.org), or GuideStar (guidestar.org).
• Find out if the charity or fundraiser must be registered in your state by contacting the National Association of State Charity Officials (nasconet.org).

The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.  To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).  The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.  The FTC’s website provides .  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.