The Connecticut Better Business Bureau recommends doing diligent research before helping fund a new charity or invest in a new business venture through crowdfunding.

• Check the records: If you are investing money you want to know that it is not going to a money launderer, and that the person running the campaign exists. Check court documents, and look for any bankruptcies or records of previous business operations.

• Search online: Do a search with the name of the individual or the campaign to see if it appears on other sites. Check out their social media sites. Are they credible and polished? Can they provide references?

• Verify charitable appeals: Crowdfunding has helped many people obtain donations for humanitarian needs. However, a minority of them have concocted stories to raise huge amounts of money before they are revealed to be con artists. In some cases, they are never caught and consumers' donations disappear.

For more helpful tips on being a smart consumer and avoiding scams go to the "Get Consumer Help" section at bbb.org.