Beware: It's a scam, warns fire boss

Lindy Laird | 20th August 2009

Scammers pretending to be from the New Zealand Fire Service are ripping off shopkeepers by selling fire extinguishers at hugely inflated prices.

Two men are targeting mainly Asian fast food outlets in Whangarei, telling owners their fire extinguishers have to be upgraded.

For $315 the man then sells them replacements which anyone could buy from hardware stores for under $100. He insists on being paid in cash. Although he leaves an invoice, neither he nor the company can be traced through the phone numbers or address.

The Fire Service is warning the public the man is not a representative or agent and has no authority to make those claims. Northland fire safety officer Craig Bain said it has also come to his attention the con men are cleaning up the "old" extinguishers they remove,  putting on new stickers and selling them as new.

"Now that is even more worrying. That could be a major safety concern," Mr Bain said.

Northland Fire Region staff learned from police that  Northland, Auckland and Waikato businesses have been targeted.

One Whangarei food seller taken in by the scam was Toyo Zheng from Penny Farthing Lunch Bar in Bank St.

"I want to warn other people to be careful.

On July 31 a man came into her shop saying he was from an Auckland fire protection company called City and Suburban Fire. He said his company was contracted to the Fire Service to replace extinguishers past their expiry date. He told Ms Zheng her extinguisher needed replacing. The man who signed an invoice as "James", with no surname, would only accept cash for the new one. He took the shop's older extinguisher away with him, saying it had
to be disposed of.

Ms Zheng paid $180, plus $35 GST, for the new equipment. She learned from  Inland Revenue that  the GST number  was a fake.

Ms Zheng then tried to contact City and Suburban Fire, leaving messages on two phone numbers on the invoice. They have since been disconnected.

Ms Zheng said she knew of other  shop owners who have been targeted by the man called James, or another. She said the man she dealt with was possibly Indian, was tall and had short black hair. He was wearing a black jacket with 1973 printed across its back.

Mr Bain is warning people not to be taken in. "This is a scam,"  he said. "The Fire Service doesn't sell products, we only give advice or make recommendations about safety issues. We would also always have identification and be wearing uniforms."

Anyone concerned about their fire extinguishers could have them safety-checked for  about $50.

Police communications manager Sarah Kennett said she hoped people targeted by the man would report it to the police. People offering any service should always produce identification or authorised accreditation, she said.

"If customers are unsure, they should ring the company the salesperson claims to represent. If still unsure, ring the police. Never just hand over a credit card or cash," Ms Kennett said.