Criminals have no shame. In fact, some of them have become quite good at manipulating our better impulses to their own gain. Ohioans are giving people; and have come to recognize a few charitable organizations we believe we can trust with the support we give. For that reason, a group of five fraudsters chose to incorporate eight organizations that, according to state Attorney General Dave Yost, were carefully disguised scams.

Would you think twice about giving money to the American Cancer Society of Cincinnati Inc., American Cancer Society of Cleveland Inc., American Cancer Society of Ohio Inc., American Cancer Foundation of Cincinnati Inc., American Cancer Foundation of Cleveland Inc., American Cancer Foundation of Ohio Inc., American Cancer Foundation of Columbus Inc. or the United Way of Ohio Inc.?

Most of us wouldn’t. But according to a lawsuit filed by Yost, they are not the organizations we are meant to believe.

They are scam charities, operated by Ian R. Hosang, Jomar Holmes, Rhett McIntosh, Judith A. Culzac and Claudia Stephen.

“These scammers were pretending to be big-time charities to swindle money from Ohioans,” Yost said. “But playtime is over, and the jig is up on your sham operation.”

The five have been ordered to pay a combined $190,000 in civil penalties and banned from associating with any charitable organization. The articles of incorporation for the scam charities have been canceled.

But what are the rest of us to do, if even an organization using the name “American Cancer Society” isn’t safe?

Yost’s office’s has some online tools that could help. Those considering donating to an organization can check whether a charity is in compliance with Ohio’s registration requirements, review a charity’s annual reports to see how it spends your donations, see whether the charity employs professional fundraisers and find out what percentage of donations actually goes to charity. The site also contains tips for safe giving.

Frankly, the five who went to such lengths to take advantage of Ohio donors seem to have gotten off easy.

They’ve exploited Buckeye State residents’ tendency to do what they can to help others, and they’ve soiled the good names of some charitable organizations that could have used that help.

While Yost’s office continues its work, it appears the burden in on the rest of us to ensure we don’t fall for these and other scams (there will always be more) when following the urge to do good.