Election season is when the phonies come out, and we're not just talking about the candidates.

These phonies will call, e-mail or maybe knock on your door and tell you they're raising money for campaigns. They'll ask you to donate to their candidate, or perhaps for a cause such as health care reform or veterans' needs.

Before you open your wallet, write a check or recite your credit card number, think about what you are doing.

How do you know the person begging for your hard-earned dough really is connected with the candidate or the cause? Smooth talkers abound during the campaign season, and that guy or gal could be a crook.

"This year, nothing is a bigger story in the United States than the 2016 presidential election. Watch out for cons that prey on would-be political donors," the Better Business Bureau warned recently.

"Some of these calls are outright scams, and providing your credit card number and personal information opens you up to the risk of fraudulent charges and identity theft," the BBB said. "Even if the caller is not a scammer, some groups may be poorly managed and not actually spend the money the way they describe on the phone."

If the caller demands immediate action, that's always a bad sign, the bureau warned. True candidates and causes should be willing to give you some time to think it over.

Caller ID can be 'spoofed'

When you're trying to determine if the request is legitimate, don't rely on what your caller ID says, because technology makes it easy to commit "spoofing," where a crook makes a phony number appear on your phone. Your phone might say the call is coming from a political center such as Washington, D.C., but it could be coming from anywhere, even another country.

Just because callers know your party affiliation doesn't mean they're legit. They could be guessing, or they might have found it through public records.

To avoid being ripped off, donate directly to the campaign on your own initiative instead of based on a call, letter or e-mail. Contribute on the candidate's website or by phone. If the office is nearby, you can go there in person.

If you're asked to donate to a political organization, you can verify whether it is legitimate by checking whether it is registered with the government.

You can look up federal candidates and political committees on the Federal Election Commission website, fec.gov. Go to the "campaign financial disclosure portal" tab, then select "candidate & committee viewer."

State and federal records list a candidate's or committee's campaign address, so make sure it matches the solicitation you received.

The BBB warns to watch for false promises from supposed polling firms, too. If you're offered a prize for answering questions, hang up. Real polling companies don't offer prizes.

And they don't need your banking or personal information. If you're asked for that, the call definitely is a fraud.