The good news is 80 percent of Americans gave money to charity last year, according to a report by the American Association of Retired Persons. The bad news is most of those who gave don't know what will be done with there money, and this can hurt legitimate, responsible charities, the Associated Press reports.

The danger lies in the fact many Americans gave in response to telephone or mail solicitations, the AP reports. Most of those who gave reported they weren't sure how the money would be used or whether the solicitors actually represented the groups for which they were raising money, the AARP survey indicates.

This means charity fraud has the potential to discourage people from donating to legitimate groups if they've had a bad experience with outside fundraisers or scam artists, the AP reports.

Legitimate charities and fundraising organizations should caution the general public to follow some basic common-sense rules when they are approached for donations by unfamiliar or "sound-alike" groups:

• Ask telephone solicitors for their name and the name of their employer. Hang up if they refuse
• Call local fire and police departments to confirm if they have allowed another group to solicit funds form them
• Ask phone solicitors for written information to be mailed to you confirming the nonprofit group's status
• Be aware some groups use names that sound like, but aren't associated with, the large, reputable groups you might think they represent
• Ignore emotional appeals or high-pressure appeals
• Remember that most legitimate charities don't send couriers to your house to collect pledges
• Contact your state attorney general if you become suspicious of a fundraising group's tactics

The AARP surveyed 1,683 adults over age 25 by telephone. The survey's results have a 2 percent margin of error.

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http://cnn.com/US/9811/12/charity.fraud.ap/