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01/11/06 New Scam Hits Costa Blanca |
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New Scam Hits Costa Blanca
1 November 2006
A new scam regarding fire safety checks has surfaced on the Costablanca
 Many British ex-pats are being contacted by phone and being told that they need to get a fire safety check on their home. The scammers are claiming that new legislation requires them the obtain a fire-safety certificate for their home. Whilst similar legislation has existed in the UK, at present there is no such legislation in Spain, although this is expected to change in the next few years.
The scam involved a check for which the owner is then given 'advice', and then asked to pay for a certificate.
The Generalitat de Valencia have insisted in some areas of the press that no such legislation exists, and if were to come into force, then every home owner would by law receive formal notification from their town hall.
However, some operators are continuing to insist that the checks are valid in light of what they say is an impending law.
Our advice is not to respond to cold telephone calls, and to check out the identity and validitiy of any checks before they are carried out.
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