Sponsored by
Callous peddler 'steals' from sick
SHOPPERS have been warned not to hand over cash for poetry books supposedly helping sick and injured firefighters.
Police, trading standards officers and firefighting charities have condemned the ‘callous’ peddler and say it is unlikely charities will see any cash.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service has received a number of complaints about a man selling the ‘Little Book of Poems’ in Blackpool’s Houndshill centre.
The man claimed proceeds would then be passed on to the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund but the county’s fire service say the worker is duping kind people.
Tim Coglan, head of Trading Standards at Blackpool Council, said: “This is despicable. People who do this are callous.”
Mark Southern of the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund (FSNBF) said: “People involved in these scams are effectively stealing from injured firefighters.”
“It seems when they get enough bad publicity they shut up shop and move on.”
Police said that shoppers should not give money without proper identification.
Sgt Paul Gabbitas of Blackpool Police said: “In order to sell goods on behalf of an authorised charity you need a peddler’s certificate and a form of identification.
“If approached by anyone selling anything on behalf of a charity, ask for identification – and report the matter to the police if you are at all suspicious.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
