The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has issued a warning about a scam targeting residents affected by the Jones Road Wildfire living in Ocean and Lacey townships.
Officials said scammers have been going door to door, claiming they can remove smoke odors from homes in the vicinity of the wildfire. They are also charging up to $30,000 for this so-called service and falsely stating that the cost will be reimbursed through insurance due to a FEMA disaster declaration, and a New Jersey State of Emergency.
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WATCH HEREAccording to officials, FEMA has not issued a disaster declaration for the Jones Road Wildfire.
Officials urge residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
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SIGN UP Fire officials did not specify which neighborhoods in particular have been targeted, but Ed Froehlich of Forked River said his father who lives Waretown told him about it.
“I think it’s wrong. It’s just wrong. I mean, come on,” Froehlich said. “Everybody trusts everybody, you know? So, ‘Hey, I’ll let you give me an estimate’ and whatever, and it happens.”
Froehlich works as a commercial contractor and said while he wouldn’t fall for the scam, he understands why some people might.
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“Especially someone who’s older and doesn’t have family who’s handy or whatever or can tell them, ‘It’s a scam’ or whatever. Or, ‘I’ll come over and I’ll spray some stuff over there,’” he said.
Joseph Ten Eyck with the International Association of Firefighters said scams like these unfortunately happen “far too often”.
“You have people that prey on people that are already heightened and have suffered loss, property physically, mentally from these kinds of incidents,” Ten Eyck said. “They can come off very polished, very professional, very legitimate, but you don’t know.”
He added if it’s a disaster that has been declared and FEMA is involved, there are guardrails in place. People are able to ask the agency for a list of approved contractors, he said.
“And if you don’t have that, it doesn’t rise to that scale…every county or township, depending on what you call it where you live in the U.S., will have contractor associations,” he said. “You can call the contractor association and vet people to make sure they’re legitimate.”
The Jones Road Wildfire began on Tuesday, April 22 and 15,300 acres have been burned since then, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. As of Friday, May 2, the fire was 80% contained.
Two teens have been arrested in connection with the fire. Prosecutors said a 17-year-old, who they did not name, was taken into custody and charged with aggravated arson, arson and hindering apprehension.
Nineteen-year-old Joseph Kling, who was already in custody and charged with aggravated arson and arson, has now also been charged with hindering apprehension.
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