Press Releases
04/19/2022
Attorney General Tong Warns Connecticut Residents to be Wary of Scam Fire Department Text Messages
(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General WilliamTong today warned Connecticut residents to be wary of text message scams pretending to sell merchandise benefiting local fire departments.
Over the holiday weekend, at least eight Connecticut fire departments reported that residents had received text messages purporting to be from the fire department with links advertising and selling discounted fire department merchandise.
“Scammers take advantage of generous and goodhearted people who just want to help. Do not fall for their tactics,” Attorney General Tong said. “If you receive one of these messages or any solicitations for a donation or purchase, do your homework first. Take your time and verify that the organization is legitimate and that your donation is going where you think it is.”
Fire departments in Harwinton, Killingworth, Seymour and Newtown issued alerts over the weekend warning residents that these messages were scams and to ignore them.
If you receive an unsolicited text message or phone call with a link asking for a donation or requesting that you make a purchase, do not click the link.
If the message comes from an organization you are familiar with, such as your local fire department, call the non-emergency line and verify that they are indeed seeking donations or…
