Coquitlam Fire/Rescue is asking residents to be on the look out for a group of people posing as sales personnel who say they are working on behalf of fire-related charities.
The suspects have approached several local businesses offering to install coin-operated breathalyzers claiming all proceeds will go to the Coquitlam Fire Fighters Burn Fund.
The individuals imply that they are either Coquitlam firefighters or have an association with the local department.
"Coquitlam Fire/Rescue and Coquitlam Fire Fighters Charitable Society do not condone, support or are in any way associated with this company or the cause that these parties claim they are representing, namely 'Burn Victims Aid Society,'" said the city of Coquitlam in an online statement.
Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung said these kinds of scams are common in the Tri-Cities and people should not hesitate to check a person's credentials.
In the case of the fire charities, for example, residents or business owners could quickly make a call to the department's switchboard to find out if there are people in the field soliciting donations.
With Christmas approaching more charities are drumming up their donations, however Chung said scams and fraud are not limited to the winter months.
"It seems like they are here all year round," he said. "They are not really new scams. There are always similar settings and all offer a background story."
Anyone who has been targeted by the individuals or have information identifying them are asked to call the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550.
CHECK SCAM
Police are warning the public of a scam that has been perpetrated on at least two people in the downtown area of Port Coquitlam last week.
In both incidents the suspect approached the victim and asked if they could help him cash a check.
"He would ask if they could cash the check for him," said Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung. "The unsuspecting victim would take him to his bank, put the check in the ATM and take out the cash."
The suspect is described as a Caucasian male in his late 20s or early 30s who is six-feet tall with a heavy build and strawberry blond hair. He was last seen wearing a baseball cap, a red sweater and light blue jean shorts and he had a pierced eyebrow.
Police said he was associated with a dark-coloured, four-door sedan in both incidents. Investigators are currently in the process of obtaining and reviewing video footage of the incidents.
