Phone Scam Alert!
The Boise Fire Department wants you to know that someone is trying to scam you. Treasure Valley residents should be aware of a phone scam involving someone claiming to be raising money for the department.
A retired firefighter was the victim. He received a call from someone who claimed to be gathering donations for the fire department. He stated the caller asked for funds in the name of the fire chief but then could not give the name of the chief when asked. The call came from a 208 area code.
If you get a call like this hang up, Boise Fire does not ask for donations over the phone. Most solicitations for police and fire service organizations are made by paid professional fund-raisers.
- Do not give credit, cash card or debit card numbers out over the phone.
- Simply having the words “police” or “firefighter” in an organization’s name doesn’t mean police or firefighters are members of the group.
- If you are donating money to a charity; donate to a charity you know and trust.
- Call the organization or your local police or fire department to verify a fund-raiser’s claim to be collecting on behalf of the organization or department. If you believe you have lost money in a scam, call police.
For more information visit the FTC http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0074-giving-charity