Generosity is part of who we are on the Suncoast. When a young athlete asks for help supporting their team, most of us want to say yes. That’s exactly why scammers are setting up in our shopping plazas, pretending to be high school students and asking people to scan QR codes for fake fundraisers. The Largo Police Department is warning residents that these con artists are getting better at their pitch, making it harder for kind-hearted community members to tell the difference between real fundraisers and fraud. Once you scan that code, your money vanishes and your financial information could be compromised.
The good news is that verification takes just a few minutes. Before you donate, ask the student some basic questions: What school do they attend? What team or organization are they fundraising for? Can they show you official documentation or materials from the school? Then take thirty seconds to call the school’s athletics department or check their website to confirm. Legitimate fundraisers have nothing to hide, and staff members are usually happy to confirm that a student is conducting an authorized fundraising effort in the community. If something feels off or the student can’t answer your questions clearly, trust that instinct and walk away.
If you’ve already been scammed or you spot suspicious fundraising activity at shopping plazas around Suncoast, contact the Largo Police Department’s non-emergency line. They’re tracking these cases and want to know about them so they can protect the rest of our community. Have you encountered a suspicious fundraiser in your neighborhood? Let us know what red flags you noticed.
