Ask for the name of the charity if the telemarketer does not provide it promptly;

Ask what percentage of your donation will support the cause described in the solicitation;

Call the charity to find out if it's aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name;

Do not provide any credit card or bank information until you have reviewed all information from the charity and made the decision to donate;

Ask for a receipt showing the amount of the contribution and stating that it is tax deductible; and

Avoid cash gifts. For security and tax record purposes, it's best to pay by check - made payable to the beneficiary, not the solicitor.

To order copies of this or other FTC Consumer Alerts, visit http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/contact.shtm#publications. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint, or to get free information on consumer issues, visit http:// www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available for more than 1,600 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.