AstralTraveller
30-04-2009, 05:15 PM
The uni I'm at received the following notification about a scam that has been running in the past week or so. I'm reluctant to pass on such stories but this one appears to be genuine.
"Dear all
B&G has received the following advice from Fire Protection Australia.
In the last few days FPA Australia has received reports of homeowners receiving telephone sales calls from a group falsely claiming to be associated with us – “Fire Protection Association of Australia” or “Aussie Domestic Fire & Safety”.
The scammers attempt to coerce unsuspecting homeowners to purchase extinguishers, fire blankets, smoke detectors and a six-monthly service, fictitiously claiming that it is a Government requirement as of November 2008. Furthermore they claim that they will cover homeowners for 30 percent of damages should a fire occur. They convince unsuspecting victims they are selling a service supposedly worth $450 for just $135 and take credit card payments over the phone.
Alarmingly we have had reports of these calls in bushfire affected areas, and it appears that the scammers may be preying on the vulnerability of these communities.
FPA Australia has alerted the media to this issue in the hope that raised community awareness will put a stop to this scam. If you become aware of any suspicious calls, we urge you to contact the Office of Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs in your state."
"Dear all
B&G has received the following advice from Fire Protection Australia.
In the last few days FPA Australia has received reports of homeowners receiving telephone sales calls from a group falsely claiming to be associated with us – “Fire Protection Association of Australia” or “Aussie Domestic Fire & Safety”.
The scammers attempt to coerce unsuspecting homeowners to purchase extinguishers, fire blankets, smoke detectors and a six-monthly service, fictitiously claiming that it is a Government requirement as of November 2008. Furthermore they claim that they will cover homeowners for 30 percent of damages should a fire occur. They convince unsuspecting victims they are selling a service supposedly worth $450 for just $135 and take credit card payments over the phone.
Alarmingly we have had reports of these calls in bushfire affected areas, and it appears that the scammers may be preying on the vulnerability of these communities.
FPA Australia has alerted the media to this issue in the hope that raised community awareness will put a stop to this scam. If you become aware of any suspicious calls, we urge you to contact the Office of Fair Trading or Consumer Affairs in your state."