The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is warning consumers to be alert for scam texts pretending to sell T-shirts in support of local fire departments. These text messages have been reported in communities across the state and may appear to come from the local fire department but are actually from imposters attempting to steal money and personal information.

If you receive a similar text, do not click on any links and delete the message. If you have questions about a fundraiser for a local fire department or similar organization, contact the organization directly through a trusted phone number or contact.

If you receive an alarming text that appears to be from a government agency, remember these tips before you address the concern.

• Do not click on links in texts. Instead, use a trusted website to log into a known account to check your account
• Do not reveal personal information, account numbers, or payments to unsolicited contacts. Hang up, and use a number from a bill or trusted website to reach out to the organization.
• Do not make payments via gift card or cash transfer apps. These methods are impossible to recover money from fraudsters.

If you have been the victim of a scam, report it by filing a complaint online at datcp.wi.gov/pages/programs_services/fileconsumercomplaint.aspx, sending an email to [email protected], or calling DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128.