Charity begins
Some con artists appeal to peopleís sense of greed or self-interest. Whatís worse are those who exploit feelings of compassion and generosity.
Most appeals for charitable contributions come from legitimate organizations, but let the giver beware. Pretenders will do everything from copy legitimate groupsí names to apply telemarketing pressure to siphon off your money for themselves.
To avoid fraud, ask questions, do some research and, best of all, direct your contributions to organizations familiar to you ó agencies in your own community known to be reputable and effective. (A list including many can be found on the Postís website at http://www.salisburypost.com/News/112711-sharing-season-list-qcd.)
Make sure your donation gets to the people and organizations that need it most. Give where it counts.