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Albufeira fire chief slams scammers collecting money 'for the Bombeiros'

bombeirosThe head of the Albufeira Bomberios is outraged by the wave of dodgy people asking for money, fooling motorists and pedestrians that they are fundraising for the local fire service.

These "mercenaries" have invaded the streets, often "wearing uniforms that even have the name of the institution," said Commander António Coelho, denouncing these organised groups that "usurp the image" of firefighters in a "clearly malicious strategy."

Coelho has called on the authorities to end the practice taking place on public roads in Albufeira and elsewhere across the Algarve.

According to the bold commander, these scammers wear clothing that makes them look like firemen, deliberately to confuse people.

"For a long time firefighters have been harmed by organised groups that accost pedestrians through aggressive and untransparent sales of raffle tickets on public streets, in strategic locations, harassing people,” said António Coelho, pointing out that these approaches are made "near fire stations and on roads in urban areas with high traffic and pedestrian traffic.”

"We can mention, for example, an organised group, initially called the Portuguese Association of Veterans of War, and that now, with the same people involved, it already ‘represents’ another association using the same mode of operation," said Coelho, stressing that his firefighters have received "many complaints from citizens who say that people approach them using the word "firemen" or "ambulance" in order to ask for money.

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Comments  

+1 #4 Ray Shepherd 2019-03-11 15:56
They frequent roundabouts around Lagos in the summer months. I approached the Bombeiros in Lagos. Not ours they said. I approached the GNR who said they would investigate. 2 hours later and the scammers were still there.
Surely this should be stopped by GNR/Police and the miscreants publicly fined.
It frightens off tourists. Everybody pays because they don't know any better.
Even my Portuguese friends are unaware of this.

Is money changing hands somewhere, you have to ask ?
-2 #3 Jeff Brown 2019-03-10 14:56
This is a good argument for more Yellow Vest protesting in Portugal. Conspicuous by its absence. Apart from agitating for a better Portugal - honest, effective judiciary, policing and public administration along with race education in schools and work places for a start - they would crowd the scammers away from high visibility junctions.
+2 #2 charly 2019-03-09 17:08
Lots of people like to make "easy money" as they call it. When these guys block a roundebout most of the time GNR does not even interfere… These guys should ware an official accredition letter + and identification
doc… but they don't...
+7 #1 Geoff Brennan 2019-03-09 09:22
These thieving scammers were recently out harassing cars at the roundabout where the Silves road joins the Portimao /Monchichque road at Porto de Lagos, I informed a GNR car parked a bit further along that road at the A22 junction and they went down to have words.
If you wish to support the Bombeiros, which we all should, please take your donations directly to your local Bombeiros station so as to ensure they get to where you intended them to go.

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