Stay vigilant – Home Fire Safety Check scam

Powys Trading Standards wish to remind residents to stay alert for all scams, particularly the latest scam to come to our attention.

This is a telephone call from persons purporting to be from the Fire Service and offering a Home ‘Fire Safety Check’. These persons will try to gain your trust and play on safety concerns in order to be given full unrestricted access to your home and then charge you excessively for work that may not necessarily be required.

It is extremely important that your home is safe and despite this latest scam, we would not want to discourage anyone from having an official Fire Safety Check.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service provide FREE Home Fire Safety Checks and can be contacted on 0800 169 1234 or go to their website for other contact details. If you receive an unsolicited call purporting to be from the Fire Service and offering this service, you can confirm it is not a scam by calling the above number.

Fire Service personnel carrying out such checks will always have identification and will be in uniform and not in plain clothes. 

Never trust a contact number provided by a stranger for the purpose of confirming their legitimacy. Always look to independently obtain a contact number from official paperwork already in your possession from a previously successful visit or from an official website.

More often than not, these types of scams are targeted at the older generation. Our advice is to always seek confirmation of the legitimacy of a caller before allowing them access to your home.

A legitimate visitor will have no objection to you closing the door and leaving them outside whilst you confirm their identity.

If you feel pressurised or concerned after a visit from anyone at your door, contact the police on 101. If it becomes urgent and you are feeling threatened call 999.

If possible, always have a relative or trusted friend/neighbour present when any planned visit takes place.

Powys Trading Standards are reminding people to be mindful of all scams and to share the above information with friends and family.