WEST HAVEN, Conn. — Phone scammers posing as firefighters to collect money donations accidentally targeted a deputy fire chief.
Fox61.com reported that Chief Scott Schwartz, with the West Haven (Conn.) Fire Department, received a phone call at home from someone saying they were collecting money for firefighters. The request set off red flags for Schwartz, who questioned the caller.
“It was probably just a random thing,” Schwartz said. “The number came up and they decided to try me but it didn’t work very well. Once I started asking them who they were, they hesitated, mumbled a little bit and then hung up so I don’t know if they’d been getting that from people or they just happened to run into the wrong person at the time.”
Schwartz called around and found out the scam is statewide, according to the report.
“We do ask for donations sometimes, and usually it’s a reputable thing, but when you find something like this it’s definitely disheartening, especially around the holidays,” he said.
He also reminded people that if you receive a phone call that sounds strange, hang up and notify your local police department.