Scammers Use Name of Deceased N.H. Firefighter/Paramedic

June 22--HAMPTON FALLS -- Residents reported a new phone scam was in which donations were requested for the Hampton Falls Fire Department, in some cases the scammer allegedly mentioning a firefighter who died this year from cancer.

Hampton Fire Chief Jay Lord released a statement Tuesday saying two calls have been reported to his department, one mentioning Kyle Jameson, a Hampton firefighter who died from complications of his battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

One report came from a resident last week who was familiar enough with the department to recognize the call as a scam. Another came on Tuesday from another fire department that heard of the scam from a different resident.

Lord said in the statement residents need to hang up on callers requesting donations. He said the Hampton Falls fire association, called the Hampton Falls Volunteer Fire Department Inc., does not do fundraising for the Hampton Falls Fire Department as is being claimed by the scammers.

"I think it's low," Lord said. "All these stupid scams, you just go, 'Really can't you go find a real job?'"

Hampton EMS Officer Nathan Denio, a close friend of Jameson before he died, called the exploitation "unbelievable."

Lord said it is common for scammers to take advantage of people's generosity towards police and firefighters, as well as families of those whose deaths were well publicized. Jameson's year-long battle with cancer was followed by over 2,000 people on Facebook, and hundreds of people lined Route 1 and Winnacunnet Road when a procession of fire and police vehicles carried Jameson's remains home.

"(Jameson's death) was so publicized in the news that these scammers are looking for any kind of an angle," Lord said.

Copyright 2016 - Portsmouth Herald, N.H.