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Conmen extract 'fines' for safety lapse

DUBAI — Cases of swindlers posing as Civil Defence-certified fire safety technicians are surfacing with increased frequency in Dubai. The impostors target commercial establishments and building owners to extract 'fines' for poor maintenance of safety equipment.

The Dubai Civil Defence confirmed that it has received a number of complaints from shops and building owners in the last two months who have been cheated by conmen projecting themselves as civil defence workers.

The conmen forced them to pay huge amounts for the maintenance of fire safety equipment in their establishments.

According to the statement released by the Dubai Civil Defence, the swindlers use fake civil defence certificates to visit shops and firms in and around Dubai and they specifically target fire extinguishers.

Describing the activity as illegal, Dubai Civil Defence Director Brigadier Rashid Thani Al Matroosh has urged establishments and building owners to check the ID of 'fire safety technicians' who visit them and ensure that they are approved by Dubai Civil Defence to test or maintain their safety fire equipment.

He also urged firm owners to note down details of employers of these technicians.

According to Mahmoud Hamad, head of Media and Information Unit in Dubai Civil Defence, only 40 companies in Dubai were given licences to employ fire safety technicians and must have certificates approved by the Civil Defence.

People can call 2073823 to report any violations.

• UAE