Countywide : Fire Dept. Issues Solicitation Tips

In the wake of complaints about bogus telephone solicitors, county officials are reminding residents this week that the Orange County Fire Department does not engage in telephone solicitations.

During the past two weeks, the Fire Department has received about 100 calls from residents who report people posing as department representatives seeking donations over the telephone.

“We get fake solicitors periodically,” said Kathleen Cha, a spokeswoman for the Fire Department. “But in the last two weeks, there’s been a deluge.”

The department issued the following guidelines to help residents deal with solicitors and determine if they represent legitimate charities:

* Request full name of solicitor and the organization.

* Ask what is the purpose of the fund raising and find out who specifically will benefit from the donation. The solicitor must also provide, if you request it, the percentage of the donation that goes to the charitable cause.

* If the telephone solicitor uses abusive or rude language or makes repeated calls after being rejected, contact a local police department and file a 653-M report.

* Request proper identification if a solicitor comes to your door.

* Contact the Fire Department to verify the program described.

If a solicitor fails to meet these requirements, residents should contact the consumer and environmental protection unit at the district attorney’s office at (714) 568-1200.