Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is contacting school districts statewide to warn them of a predatory marketing scheme that dupes local businesses into paying hundreds of dollars for sports merchandise, t-shirts, and athletic event items such as banners and cups. These scammers tell businesses that the promotional products help sponsor or support their local teams, but the scammers are the only ones winning money in this game, the AG office says.
“Communities rally around their school sports teams and while these scammers may seem to be cheerleaders – they are really crooks,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Preying on the generosity of Arkansans is unacceptable and hurts our legitimate businesses’ ability to support their local schools, boosters, and charitable organizations. I will not let scam artists win this game.”
The AG’s office has received reports of an out-of-state company that is using predatory and deceptive tactics to sell local businesses promotional items that are promised to support local schools and their booster clubs.
These unsolicited items are often delivered directly to the Athletic Director or simply addressed to the “Cheer Coach” or someone similar who can never use the items. As a result, the scammed business’s merchandise remains in the box where it does not benefit the school or the local business.
Attorney General Rutledge issued the following warnings:
- School districts do not accept unsolicited “gifts” of spirit wear such as banners, posters, footballs, and stadium cushions.
- Contact your local school’s athletic program or booster club to confirm that any items you are ordering are going to support the school’s programs.
- Get confirmation from the school that the items you ordered were delivered.
- A school’s name, insignia, and sports team logo are often trademarked. Unauthorized use can result in civil liability.
If you have yet to be immunized against COVID-19, White River Now urges you to talk to your trusted local physician or pharmacist about the COVID-19 vaccine.
For COVID-19 information from the Arkansas Department of Health, click here.
For information from local physicians about COVID-19 vaccines, click here.
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