State and federal agencies are declaring war against what they call "badge charities," sham organizations that claim to raise money to benefit police, firefighters and veterans.

Barbara Hallgren's elderly father received a call from someone representing the Coalition of Police and Sheriffs and the Disabled Firefighters Fund. They convinced the Mercer Island grandfather to send in $275.

"I was horrified," Hallgren said.

Her dad was not only a nice guy, but suffered from some dementia. He didn't realize he was giving away a third of his monthly fixed income.

Judi Montoya is a volunteer for the AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center and joined with other volunteers at this special phone bank Wednesday to get the word out about phony charities, and charities that spend more money on administration than on the cause they represent.

This follows an announced sweep of bad charities by the Federal Trade Commission and the Washington Attorney General's office.

The FTC said the charities receiving money from Hallgren's father raise millions of dollars but give very little money to police, sheriffs or disabled firefighters. “Just because someone says they are raising money for veterans or police does not mean every dollar you give will go toward those deserving causes,” said Secretary of State Sam Reed. “Some solicitors will return very little – or nothing at all – to the charity they claim to be representing. That’s why it’s so important to know who is taking your donations, and how that money will be spent.”

The Washington Attorney General’s Office uses its civil enforcement authority to stop deceptive fundraising practices and enforce a state law that requires charities register with the Secretary of State’s Office.

According to records at the Washington Secretary of State’s Office, these are some of the organizations they've invesigated:

Millennium Fundraising returned 14 percent of contributions to charity, raising money for Cancer Assistance Network and Caring for Our Children Foundation.

Impact Fundraising gave 17 percent of donated dollars to charity in 2008. It raised money for Disabled Firefighters Fund.

Only 8 percent of the money spent last year by American Veterans Relief Foundation went to program services.

Only 5 percent of the money spent in 2007 by Coalition of Police and Sheriffs (COPS) went to program services.

Only 5 percent of the money spent in 2007 by Disabled Firefighters Fund went to program services.

Additional information about the FTC cases is available at www.ftc.gov.

Tips and Resources from Wash. State Officials:

1. Check out charities before you give.

Secretary of State’s Office: Confirm a charity is registered and review its financial records at www.secstate.wa.gov/charities or call toll-free 1-800-332-4483. The office also publishes an annual report showing how much money commercial fundraisers give to their charitable clients and how much they keep.

Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance: www.give.org

American Institute of Philanthropy: www.charitywatch.org

GuideStar: www.guidestar.org

Charity Navigator: www.charitynavigator.org

AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center: 1-800-646-2283. Receive free information about giving wisely.

Attorney General’s Office: If you believe you are a victim of charity fraud, please contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Resource Center between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays at 1-800-551-4636 or file a complaint online at www.atg.wa.gov.

2. Give to familiar organizations and those you trust.
3. Ask exactly how your money will be used.
4. Pay by check and protect your personal information.
5. Maintain records of your contributions. If a donation is “tax deductible,” you can deduct your contribution on your federal income tax return. Tax exempt simply means the organization doesn’t have to pay taxes.
6. Remove your name from mailing lists and telemarketing lists. Contact the Direct Marketing Association’s opt-out service at www.dmachoice.org. Register for the national Do Not Call list at www.donotcall.gov or 1-888-382-1222. Individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairments may be particularly vulnerable to solicitations, so caretakers should remove them from these lists.