July 12, 1997

WRT fire chief warning of false phone solicitations

       The White River Township Fire Department is warning local residents to beware of false phone solicitations that have been reported over the past week.  “We’ve had several citizens call us to inquire about a group calling itself the Indiana Firefighters Association,” Chief Mike Dutton said.  “They’re calling for solicitations over the phone and saying it’s for the White River Fire Department, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”  The chief said he’s never heard of the Indiana Firefighters Association, and he said the White River Township Fire Department never does phone solicitations of any kind.  He said the department has gotten about 10 calls concerning the solicitations over the past week, but he doesn’t know if any residents have actually pledged money.  The department has filed a complaint with the Indiana attorney general’s office and encourages residents to do the same.  “It’s going to take public complaints before this group can be stopped,” Dutton said.  The local phone scam is not the first to use the Indiana Firefighters Association name.  “I heard about the same problem up in Carmel last year, when callers were using that same name,” Dutton said.  To report solicitations: Indiana attorney general, 232-6201.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

 

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