The Federal Trade Commission and officials from 48 states have announced 76 enforcement actions  against individuals, fund-raising firms, non-profits, and purported non-profits, as part of a crackdown on fraudulent telemarketing on behalf of police, firefighters, and veterans.

The series of court complaints and proposed settlement orders targeted defendants who the officials say falsely claimed that donations would support military families, or police or firefighters disabled in the line of duty. In some cases, they said, defendants “used legitimate-sounding names and described sympathetic causes to give their sham organizations a veneer of credibility.”

Fundraising on behalf of police, fire and veterans organizations can be lucrative because of the public’s interest in giving to those who have put their lives at risk. But even when legitimate, those fundraising campaigns often return little to the actual organization or individuals they are supposed to benefit.

To make sure your charitable donations are used effectively, never give to a telemarketer. Instead, hang up and investigate any organization before giving. You can obtain information from your state’s charity regulators and from non-profit watchdogs, such as the American Institute of Philanthropy, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance; and Charity Navigator.

Some Better Business Bureaus provide reports on local charities, and the national BBB offers a free online guide, Donating to Police and Firefighter Organizations.

If you’re intrepid, you can examine the tax returns non-profits are required to file, known as Form 900, at GuideStar. The forms provide details on how organizations raise and spend their money. Free registration is required. For more information, check our tips for selecting a charity—Anthony Giorgianni