East Meadow FD Warns Of Scam Letters Impersonating Department

EAST MEADOW, NY — The East Meadow Fire Department is alerting residents to a scam that is using fake soliciting donations for the district in order to steal money.

Officials say Long Island residents are receiving letters asking for money to support the fire department's annual fund drive. It is a scam, though.

"The letter is from an organization called the Volunteer Firefighter Alliance Charity and looks like a statement and asks for money by a certain date," said East Meadow Fire Department Commissioner James Surless. "A legitimate fund drive letter from the East Meadow Fire Department will have our letterhead on it along with a local East Meadow return mailing address and a local phone number."

The East Meadow Fire Department's fund drive has already begun, Surless said, and letters have already been sent to residents requesting donations. He also said that the fire department never asks for donations over the phone.

Anyone who has questions about a letter they received in the mail can call the department's non-emergency number at 516-542-0578.