Police departments in Winter Park and Orange City are warning the public of a scam circulating on social media that claims to be selling sweatshirts on behalf of the agencies.
According to the Winter Park Police Department, authorities have noticed a trend wherein scammers are sending messages to Facebook followers of WPPD with “limited” offers for merchandise purchases, including t-shirts and sweatshirts.
“We want you to know that WPPD does not solicit orders for apparel,” reads a social media post from the organization.
In Orange City, police say that text messages are being sent with similar solicitations that offer “10 OFF” hoodies that are “ready to order now.”
“We would like to advise the community that OCPD is not selling nor condoning the sale of any type of merchandise,” reads a statement from the department.
Authorities are warning residents to avoid clicking on any links or replying to messages that solicit them to make a purchase. The scams in question may contain malware that allows perpetrators to access computers remotely.
If you or anyone you know has been subjected to one of these scams, please contact the Winter Park Police Department at 407-644-1313 or visit them online at the Winter Park Police Department website, or contact the Orange City Police Department at 386-775-9999.