Fire Dept alerts public to scams targeting small suppliers
JOHOR BARU: The public, particularly caterers and hardware suppliers, are being urged to exercise caution when approached with lucrative contract offers claiming to be from the Fire and Rescue Department.
Director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad (pic) warned that more than 50 cases of scams have been reported nationwide, with fraudsters using the department’s letterheads to deceive small-scale caterers and suppliers.
“This is why all 340 fire stations nationwide have been told to be alert to people calling to enquire about projects or tender awards,” he said, adding that this move had helped to prevent many businesses from falling victim to these scams.
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Nor Hisham expressed disappointment that, despite ongoing public warnings via social media and police reports, the scams are continuing.
Sabah and Johor are particularly affected, with the department seeing a high number of fraudulent activities in these states.
“Recently, we recorded four cases in Sarawak, as well as one involving the purchase of vehicle tyres by the Kluang fire station in Johor. Fortunately, no financial losses were reported, as the victims verified the details with the station before proceeding with the order,” he shared with The Star.
Nor Hisham stressed that the department has a stringent tendering process, as any purchase above RM500,000 requires his signature, while smaller transactions are handled by the state department directors.
“No fire station is allowed to directly purchase food or hardware. Therefore, any letters or documents from scammers bearing my name and signature or that of department heads are fraudulent.”
He said the scammers typically approach vendors with offers of RM150,000 contracts to supply food or equipment, including vehicle tyres.
“The scammer will then tell the victim that they are too busy to fulfil the order themselves and ask for an upfront commission in exchange for getting the job done,” Nor Hisham explained.
The unsuspecting victim, thinking they are making a profitable deal, transfers the money and proceeds with the job, only to realise they have been scammed when they arrive at the fire station.
He noted that scammers tend to target small-scale caterers and suppliers who are less familiar with the department’s procurement processes.
“Larger suppliers are more aware of the government’s internal procedures,” he said.
“We only issue tenders for food worth more than RM150,000 twice a year – during Firefighters’ Day and the Merdeka celebrations – due to the large-scale manpower required for the rehearsals and the events.”
Supplies for vehicles, he added, are handled by the respective state headquarters.
Regarding the evolution of the scammers’ modus operandi, Nor Hisham said that while previously these scams involved inside sources or the selling of names for personal gain, today’s fraudsters have adapted to online platforms.
“Now everything is online, and scammers are also adapting,” he said, adding that in the past, some individuals falsely collected money for the supposed welfare of firefighters.
When asked if any department personnel were involved in the recent scams, Nor Hisham did not think so but advised the 13,000 staff members to uphold their integrity and the department’s reputation.
Although no financial loss has been reported by the department itself, Nor Hisham expressed regret that genuine businesses have been defrauded.
He has directed all state department directors to lodge reports whenever such incidents occur and will continue to collaborate with the police to investigate the scams.
Looking ahead, Nor Hisham noted that in the past three years, the department has issued over 70 tenders nationwide.
“This year alone, we have many ongoing tenders,” he said.
For those interested in applying, information about tenders can be accessed through official channels such as the ePerolehan and MyProcurement websites, as well as the Fire and Rescue Department’s website and notice boards.
