Fire departments in Western Pennsylvania warning people about scam involving T-shirt sales

Tony LaRussa | Monday, August 8, 2022 5:51 p.m.

Tony LaRussa | Tribune-Review

Volunteer fire departments across the region, including at one in Allegheny Township, are alerting people about a scam involving the sale of T-shirts to raise money to support their operations.

Markle Volunteer Fire Department posted a warning on its Facebook page Monday asking people to be wary of the solicitation being sent via text message.

The brief text message contains a link to buy T-shirts to support the fire department, but numerous organizations are issuing warnings for people not to be deceived by the solicitation.

Other Western Pennsylvania communities that have issued warnings about the fire department T-shirt scam include Wexford, Franklin Park, Coraopolis, Aleppo, Aliquippa, Leetsdale, Moon, Hopewell, Mt. Lebanon, Sewickley, Baldwin, Bellevue, Cherry City, Sharpsville and Hermitage, according to a search of social media postings.

The scam also was reported by fire departments in West Virginia, New York and Connecticut, according to reports from news outlets in those states.

A spokesman for state Attorney General Josh Shapiro said his office has not received complaints about the T-shirt scam, but people should report them by filling out an online complaint form.