School officials in Mount Vernon are asking residents to not buy candy from a group they say is running a scam.

The group is accused of selling the candy by telling would-be customers the money is going toward the Mount Vernon School District's sports program.

The district began the Save Our Sports initiative last summer after voters rejected a budget proposal that would have funded athletics. The district has been trying to raise $900,000 privately since then. Officials say they are now $27,000 short of their goal.

"We have not asked students for any contributions or to participate in any way," says Dr. Welton Sawyer, the superintendent of Mount Vernon's schools.