The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for charities, both in services rendered and in donations taken. But it also is a time when bogus charities capitalize on that goodwill to scam people out of their money.

Just how big a problem it is in West Virginia is unknown, although West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant noted state residents donated more than $1.2 billion to charity during the last year alone. She said Monday there were simple steps people could take to make sure their money is going where they think it is.

“In especially hard economic times, folks are going to be turning more and more to charities for help, and in turn those charities are asking even more of those folks who can give,” she said. “So what that sets up is a very ripe situation for a fraudulent charity to try to take advantage of the goodness of West Virginians.”

There currently are more than 2,600 charities licensed to solicit donations in the state, according to figures provided by the office. Those charities have collected nearly $730 million on state residents but have dispersed more than $811 million to programs in West Virginia, thanks to out-of-state donations.

All charities that solicit in West Virginia must register with the secretary of state’s office, with two major exceptions. The first are organizations that expect to collect less than $25,000. The second are large charities already monitored at the federal level. One example is the Salvation Army.

Those records are online at www.wvsos.com under the “Charities” tab. The Web site is the first place Tennant recommends looking should someone have questions about whether to donate to a charity. The data shows how much a charity has raised and how much it has spent on programs rather than administration or fundraising. Tennant had a short list of “do’s and don’ts” for anyone considering giving to an organization:

• Know your charity. Don’t give to organizations on a whim. Take the time to research who they are and what they do. • Know where the money goes. Find out how much does a charity spends on programs advancing its mission rather than fundraising efforts and administrative overhead. • Don’t feel pressured. Don’t let that person on the phone badger you into giving to an organization, no matter the cause. There is nothing wrong with asking for more information or saying you want to take the time to do some more research before giving. • Never pay using your credit card. Don’t give your credit card number out. And don’t pay in cash. Always use checks so there will be a paper record. • Beware the “name game.” Some fraudulent charities have innocuous names or names that mirror larger, reputable charities. Know who you are dealing with. • Don’t fall for trinkets. Some scammers promise gifts – from tote bags to magazine subscriptions – if you donate. Be wary of such promises. Still, one shouldn’t be a Scrooge with money just because of a few Grinches. Hundreds of legitimate charities are seeking help this holiday season because high unemployment numbers are putting a strain on their resources. Residents without quick access to the Web can call 866-767-8683 to look up a charity.