Springdale police warn residents of fire department phone scam

Springdale police are warning the community that a phone call from someone soliciting money for the borough’s volunteer fire department is a scam.

A Wednesday social media post from the police department said a group of people posing as fire department members are calling residents, saying they need donations because the department is in financial trouble.

Springdale’s fire department never calls or solicits money in this manner, police said.

Police said the scammers might know personal information about the resident or use a script that relies on responses to gather personal information during the phone call. The scammer also may put someone else on the phone to make the story seem more credible, police said.

The caller reportedly instructs residents to go to their bank and withdraw cash to send to an address through a shipping company, police said. The caller also may offer to send someone to pick up the money at a resident’s home.

Police advise residents to hang up and report the call to police by calling 911.