A fraudster is attempting to con Oxfordshire companies by claiming to be raising money for a fire brigade appeal which does not exist.

Oxfordshire Fire Service has issued a warning to businesses across the county to stay clear of a caller claiming to be raising cash for the Fire Brigade Millennium Appeal.

In the last two weeks, a caller, who uses the names Paul Jones and Bill Thomas, has telephoned firms in the county seeking money for the appeal. Oxfordshire County Council's chief fire officer, Tom Carroll, said: "There is no such appeal and companies should check the identity of callers before considering any kind of contribution.

"No-one from Oxfordshire Fire Service would contact a company in order to raise funds."

Mr Carroll said business owners should take as many details as possible of any dubious callers - ideally a recording of the conversation - and pass these on to Oxfordshire Trading Standards at County Hall.

Mr Carroll added: "Unfortunately, because of the good reputation of the fire service, in Oxfordshire and nationally, people are not suspicious and tend to take it for granted it is is a genuine cause. "We do not want people thinking they are helping the service when they are probably just throwing their money away."

Mr Carroll explained that this was not the first time the name of the fire service had been used in a con trick.

He said people had promoted the sale of diaries in the name of the fire service and, in one case, a bogus caller unwittingly visited the house of an off-duty Oxfordshire fireman but was chased off by police.

Anyone who is suspicious of a caller is asked to contact Oxfordshire County Council Fire Service on 01865 842999.

Story date: Monday 01 November

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