BEWARE OF FRAUDSTERS

East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS) has issued a warning after complaints from a number of people who had received calls from private companies claiming to be working for the Fire and Rescue Service.

Dave Dowling, Director of Risk Management, ESFRS, said: "The calls appear to be targeting vulnerable people who are being encouraged to invest large sums of money in supposed good causes or advertising on the basis of claiming to be working with the Fire and Rescue Service. Unfortunately, this type of activity is not uncommon and takes advantage of the good reputation of our organisation.

"We'd like to remind everyone to be aware of the dangers of bogus callers and not to give out personal information nor hand over any money. Please remember that the Fire and Rescue Service would never ask for money from the public and we're disappointed that some companies are behaving in this way."

The advice from ESFRS is:

Please encourage vulnerable neighbours, friends and family members to follow these steps if in doubt whether a call is genuine:

1. Always take a name.

2. Always take a telephone contact number.

3. Never make a payment or commitment without taking time to think about the offer.

4. If in doubt inform trading standards (the Fire and Rescue Service cannot make complaints on behalf of other people).

5. Remember it is extremely unlikely that any activity of the fire and rescue service will involve a request for money, especially through cold calling.

6. Where the company claims to be working with the 'fire service', please pass the name of the company, their telephone number and details of any offer they have proposed to the Complaints Officer at ESFRS HQ on freephone number 0845 130 8855.