Beware of Fraudulent Telemarketing Campaign for Firefighters

Thanks to Pat Mc Elroy from the Santa Barbara Firefighters Association for sending me the following about a local scam telemarketing campaign:

We have been made aware of a telephone solicitation campaign purportedly raising money for "Santa Barbara Firefighters". We want the people of the Santa Barbara area to know that we are not affiliated with any telemarketing program and that any money raised will, in all probability, be lining the pockets of scam artists. We are periodically beset by these types of operations most notably in the wake of the line of duty death of a local Fireifghter in 1999. At that time telemarketers told unsuspecting residents that the money would be used to pay for "counseling for his young widow". Please don't be taken in by this completely fraudulent operation.