The recent revelations about four cancer charities that have collectively scammed more than $187 from consumers has called for more caution when donating to charities.

Maine Attorney Janet Mills urges Maine consumers to make informed decisions about donations and not succumb to pressures from charities.  Consumers can call the Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Registration at 207-624-8603 or go online at www.pfr.maine.gov/almsonline/almsquery/SearchCompany.aspx to see if the charity and its professional fundraiser are registered.

Mills suggested always examining the organization’s purpose, how it uses its donations and what percentage of every dollar donated will actually go to the charity. ” The law cannot limit the percentage that a professional fundraiser can receive from money raised, but you can choose to give to a charity that  receives and uses more of the donations raised on its charitable mission,” the release stated.

One source of that information can be found at www.guidestar.org.