School leaders in Sheffield are asking Shoals residents to be a little more cautious — and a little more curious — if approached by someone claiming to be a high school student collecting money for school expenses, following recent scam attempts.

Administrators say they’ve received multiple reports of individuals posing as Sheffield High School students and asking shoppers for donations tied to graduation fees, prom costs, or student activities at retail locations around Muscle Shoals and Florence.

The warning follows several phone calls to the school and a direct encounter involving a school counselor, who said a young man outside a local store claimed to be a Sheffield student raising money for graduation. When questioned, he could not verify that he was enrolled at the school. Store management and police were notified after the interaction.

In a public message to families and the broader community, Sheffield High School officials said the individuals involved are not students and are not connected to any approved school fundraiser.

“Please do not give money to these individuals, and if seen, alert the store manager,” the district said.

School leaders emphasized that when Sheffield students participate in legitimate fundraising, it is organized and supervised. An authorized teacher or sponsor is present, and the fundraiser is communicated clearly through official school channels. Administrators also noted that the only currently approved prom or graduation fundraiser is a lasagna sale — not in-person cash collections outside stores.

The message to the community is simple: if something doesn’t feel quite right, it’s okay to pause and verify before giving.

Officials encouraged residents who see suspicious solicitation activity to notify store management and contact the school if they have questions.

Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.