Â鶹´«Ã½

The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has tips for people who may want to donate money to the victims and families of the Boston bombings.

Before making a contribution, you should read the FTC’s , also available in Spanish,  .

In general, urgent appeals for aid that you get in person, by phone, mail, e-mail, or on websites and social networking sites may not be on the up-and-up.  The FTC’s has tips for guidance on donating wisely.

If you are asked to contribute to a charity, the FTC recommends that you:

• 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;
• Verify that the charity has authorized the solicitation;
• 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.

The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC's online or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides .  Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.