The Federal Trade Commission made headlines recently by accusing four cancer charities of defrauding well-meaning donors for more than $187 million. The FTC and law enforcement groups from all 50 states filed complaints against the Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services, Children’s Cancer Fund of America, and the Breast Cancer Society. The complaint alleges that these four “sham charities” solicited millions in donations by promising to help pay for hospice care, chemotherapy, and other services for cancer patients. But only a fraction of that money actually went to patients. The bulk of the donations went to company cars, high salaries, and even a Caribbean cruise.

If you’re thinking of donating to a worthy cause, follow these tips to make sure your hard-earned money is going to the right place:

Ask for detailed information about the charity, including exact name, address, and telephone number.

Keep a record of your donations.

Get a written description of the programs the charity supports and how your money will be used. For example, find out what percentage of donations go to actual programs versus administrative and fundraising costs.

Do your research. Don’t be fooled by a name of a respected charity or one that sounds like a well-known charity. Searching the name of the organization online — especially with the word “complaint(s)” or “scam”— is one quick way to learn about its reputation.

Check the charity’s score on Charity Navigator, a website that tracks the performance of thousands of non-profit organizations.

Ask for the charity’s tax-exempt letter indicating its IRS status. You can’t claim a tax-deductible donation if the charity does not have one.

Never give cash. For security and tax purposes, it’s best to pay by check — made payable to the charity — or by credit card.

Never wire money to someone claiming to be a charity. Scammers often request donations to be wired because wiring money is like sending cash: once you send it, you can’t get it back.

Don’t give out your Social Security number. A charity does not need it in order for you to claim a tax deduction.

And, don’t give in to high-pressure or emotional appeals urging you to donate on the spot.

Reporting Charity Fraud

It is a federal felony for anyone to engage in mail fraud, wire fraud, or credit-card fraud. Charity-related fraud can be reported