A new phone scam has ignited some anger in Sechelt fire Chief Bill Higgs.
Higgs said the scam, which has been blazing up the phone lines in the Lower Mainland, involves people asking for donations to the Fire Chief's Association of B.C.
"They say they are looking for funds to generally support the fire service, and they give all the good heart warming excuses that they use. People are fairly cautious over this stuff, but when they say they represent the firefighters and emergency first responders it tends to suck people in," Higgs said.
But the Fire Chief's Association of B.C. doesn't solicit funds by phone.
"If anyone gets a call from someone claiming to be from the Fire Chief's Association of B.C. or any sort of affiliation with any fire department it's a scam. We don't solicit funds that way," Higgs said.
He said the fire department only asks for donations once a year during their boot drive for muscular dystrophy, and at that time firefighters are out in full uniform so people know the fundraiser is legitimate.
"For other funds we need, like for example this small addition we want to put on the fire hall, we sell calendars, so there's a tangible thing you can see, but we don't do it over the telephone, that's for sure," he said.
If you receive a phone call from someone looking for donations to the fire department you are asked to contact Sunshine Coast RCMP and report the incident to them at 604-885-2266.
