An organization calling itself the "United Ways Charity Foundation" is not associated with the United Way of America or any other United Way organization, an alert issued Wednesday from the national agency declared.

"I would like to make sure people don’t respond," said Dee Anne Everson, executive director of the United Way of Jackson County.

The organization uses the Web site www.uniteways.org, which directs visitors to a site that appears similar to many legitimate United Way sites, Everson said. The site urges visitors to give personal bank account information to receive and transfer charitable contributions.

The United Way of America has contacted the Federal Trade Commission to urge the organization to cease use of the United Way name.

Everson said she hadn’t heard of any local people receiving the false information, but she wanted to warn the public just in case.

For more information, call 773-5339.