Officials are warning Treasure Valley residents of a phone scam involving someone claiming to be raising money for the Boise Fire Department.
A retired firefighter reported recently receiving a call from a person claiming to be collecting donations for the fire department. He stated the caller asked for funds in the name of the fire chief –- but, when asked by the retired firefighter, the caller could not give the name of the chief. The call came from a 208 area code.
Officials say, if you receive a call like this, promptly hang up.
The Boise Fire Department does not ask for donations over the phone. Most solicitations for police and fire service organizations are made by paid professional fundraisers.
Other points to remember:
--Do not give credit, cash card or debit card numbers to callers 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 fundraiser’s claim to be collecting on behalf of the organization or department.
--If you believe you have lost money in a scam, call police.
