PARMA, Ohio — *Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.
The Parma Fire Department is warning residents in the Greater Cleveland area about a potential text message scam.
According to the department, locals have been receiving messages encouraging them to purchase a t-shirt with the Parma Fire Department logo emblazoned on the front and back.
"The shirt design and logo lead the viewer to believe that this is an official shirt, authorized by the fire department, and may lead the purchaser to believe that the proceeds for the purchase of the shirt will go to the benefit of the department," the department said in a release about the scam.
However, the shirt has not been authorized by the city of Parma Fire Department and the website being used to sell the shirts may contain malware and or tracking software should the user click on the link.
This is not an isolated occurrence for the Parma Fire Department, several other area fire departments throughout Northeast Ohio have also reported receiving these inquiries and have warned their citizenry against the purchase of these shirts and the potential hazard of visiting this website.
Citizens should know that fire departments generally do not permit their department patches or logos to be used in public forums and should the occasion arise will usually only provide for their sale through secure and trusted websites. Fire and police organizations do not, as a rule, contact cell phone subscribers requesting their support or the purchase of such materials as T-shirts for use by the general public or other fundraising events.
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*Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous report.