Volunteer fire department defrauded of $220,000 meant for new ambulances – NBC4 Washington

A Maryland volunteer fire department lost money for two new ambulances in an apparent scam.

According to the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, $220,000 was seized by someone posing as the vendor the department was working with. That $220,000 deposit ended up in an offshore account.

“The thought that anyone would think about stealing volunteers is just mind-boggling,” said department chairman Eric N. Bernard.

The department said at least two other fire departments using the same supplier were also defrauded around the same time.

“This station has over forty calls a day,” Bernard said. “We don’t have time to deal with this kind of waste. And be ashamed of them. They should be ashamed.”

The department still plans to purchase two ambulances as soon as possible. The bank was able to recover $100,000 of the deposit, and the community is stepping up to help. Giuseppi’s Pizza Plus in Rockville will be holding a fundraiser in the coming weeks.

Montgomery County police and the FBI are investigating.