CLAY COUNTY – The holiday season is a time when we all feel a little more giving and a lot more trusting. It’s also a time when scam artists like to take advantage of that generosity.

The reality of the season is there are as many Grinches out there trying to steal your holiday cheer as there are legitimate organizations.

Experts say do some homework before you open your wallet.

“Start with charities that are well-known and well-recognized with good reviews,” said retired Clay County Sheriff’s Office deputy Chris Padgett. “Go online. Google the name of the charity. You will see plenty of reviews.”

There are more than 1,200 registered charities in Clay County, according to state records.

Florida Attorney General Ashely Moody’s office released the Holiday Consumer Protection Guide to ensure charitable dollars to the most for people in need, not people with greed.

Legitimate charities must be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. To see if your charity is on the state’s list, visit www.fdacs.gov/consumerservices or call (800) HELP-FLA.

Another good source for information is the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance.

Donors also need to know how much of their donation will be spent on administrative and fundraising expenses, as opposed to the charity’s programs. Charities are required to provide that information, Moody said.

Padgett said if you donate online, make sure the site features a secured connection padlock that should be displayed on the toolbar.

“Never put any financial information online to an unsecured site,” he said.

Padgett also said a new scam involves people pretending to be representatives of banks, government, Apple and Microsoft who need information to clear up a breach in your account.

“Companies won’t call you,” Padgett said. “If someone calls like that, hang up.”

Another scam involves charities operating with similar names to legitimate charities.

According to CharityWatch, one example is Cancer Research Institute and American Institute for Cancer Research. Both sound sincere, but American Institute for Cancer Research only spends $36 out of every $100 donated to cancer research programs, while Cancer Research Institute spends $87.

Another example with local ties includes Wounded Warrior Project and two fraudulent charities called Wounded Warrior Foundation and Wounded Warrior Fund. In fact, four people were indicted last year in Indiana for running a scam that plays off the good work done at Jacksonville-based WWP.

The best protection against being hacked is to avoid making any donations to a website or answering pitches sent through the mail, Padgett said.

“Pay on a secured online site or donate in person,” he said. “And if you donate cash, get a receipt with the account number on it. That way you have a record of it.”

When in doubt, experts said the best way to make sure your generosity goes to a worthy cause is to stick with a well-known charity or your church. That way you’re certain to have a heartfelt holiday.