Romford Recorder
LONDON — The London Fire Brigade tells of two cases of conmen dressing as firefighters to trick people into giving out their personal details.
Michael Burrell, Wennington Station manager, said: “Firefighters and community safety officers from the Brigade do regularly carry out fire safety work in the area but if you are contacted by anyone claiming to be a firefighter please make sure you ask to see their identification first and if you are still are unsure call the number on the ID card.”
The first incident happened on Monday October 8 at around midday in South Hornchurch when a man dressed in a blue firefighters ‘uniform’ knocked on a residents’ door asking them to enter a prize draw. According to the caller the draw required the householder to give their bank account details.
In a separate incident, in Wennington, there have been reports of blue bags being posted through people’s doors requesting used clothing with proceeds going to a firefighter’s charity.
The London Fire Brigade is reminding residents to be alert after two cases of conmen dressing as firefighters to trick people into giving out their personal details.
Michael Burrell, Wennington Station manager, said: “Firefighters and community safety officers from the Brigade do regularly carry out fire safety work in the area but if you are contacted by anyone claiming to be a firefighter please make sure you ask to see their identification first and if you are still are unsure call the number on the ID card.”
The first incident happened on Monday October 8 at around midday in South Hornchurch when a man dressed in a blue firefighters ‘uniform’ knocked on a residents’ door asking them to enter a prize draw in support of a firefighters’ charity.
According to the caller the draw required the householder to give their bank account details.
In a separate incident, in Wennington, there have been reports of blue bags being posted through people’s doors requesting used clothing with proceeds going to a firefighter’s charity.
Michael said: “In neither case were London Fire Brigade or the official Fire Fighters charity involved in any charity collection in the area so we strongly suspect that these were bogus callers posing as firefighters.”
If anyone believes that a caller is not genuine then they should call the police on 999.
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