Text Scam Warning Issued In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Officials are warning residents of text message scams pretending to sell merchandise benefitting local fire departments, including in Middletown.

“We have been informed that some people are receiving text messages purportedly from City of Middletown Local 1073 seeking to sell t-shirts at a discount,” officials wrote in a post on the City of Middletown Professional Firefighters Local 1073 union’s Facebook page. “This is NOT affiliated in any way with this organization and is a scam. Please do NOT click the link in the message. Thank you.”

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is also advising residents to be wary of the text messages after at least eight fire departments in the state reported the scam over the holiday weekend.

“Scammers take advantage of generous and goodhearted people who just want to help. Do not fall for their tactics,” Tong said in a statement. “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.”

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, according to Tong.

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 selling merchandise, Tong said.

More Tips for Giving Safely:

• Do your homework. Before making a charitable donation, make sure you know who you are dealing with and what your donation will be used for. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, or Guidestar are good resources for verifying a charity is legitimate.
• Charities soliciting in Connecticut must be registered with the Department of Consumer Protection. You can verify a registration by visiting elicense.ct.gov.
• Don’t be pressured. Do not donate if the solicitor uses high-pressure tactics, asks for payment in cash or insists on sending someone to pick up your donation.
• Be careful when giving out your personal information or credentials. Sometimes donors are required to make an account with their personal information in order to give to a charity. Those accounts can be compromised, and your information can be stolen.
• Tax Deductible Donations: If making a tax-deductible donation is important to you, use the Exempt Organizations Select Tool at IRS.gov to find qualified charities. Only donations to qualified charitable organizations are tax-deductible. Once you have made your donation, be sure to get a receipt for your contribution.
• Keep records of your donations. If you donate by credit card, check your statements closely to make sure you’re charged only for what you agreed to donate.

Residents can report charity related fraud by contacting the Office of the Attorney General via email at attorney.general@ct.gov or by calling 860-808-5318. Complaints can be filed here.