The sale of postmen’s and firefighters’ calendars is an end-of-year ritual. Be careful, there are a few scammers among those who ring your doorbell.
As the new year approaches, garbage collectors, postmen and even firefighters come knocking on doors to offer to buy their calendar. The amount donated to support these professionals is free. However, in recent years, this sale has been hijacked by scammers. So you have to be very careful when you decide to give them money.
How does it work? The scammers simply pose as one of these professionals and collect your money in exchange for a schedule. Some go much further and try to enter your home to rob you or scout out locations for a future burglary. They sometimes use the trick of asking you if they can go to the toilet, or when there are two of them, one creates a diversion while the second steals money or valuables. They often play on smiles and sympathy and target older people more.
To protect yourself from this, you should already know that only firefighters and postmen are authorized to make this sale anywhere. For La Poste employees, these calendars are New Year gifts, while for firefighters, the funds are donated to firefighter associations or associations.
On the garbage collectors’ side, validation from the municipality is required. The police and gendarmes are, conversely, not authorized there. You can ask your town hall for a precise list of professionals authorized to come and knock on your home for this purpose.
In addition, certain details can help you identify if you are dealing with scammers. Firefighters must be in uniform when they ring your doorbell. For postmen, the La Poste logo must be affixed to the proposed calendar. They must also all have a professional card, which they can present to you if you ask.
Concerning the sale, they must give you a receipt, indicating the amount you donated. It is also forbidden to impose on you the amount to donate. If the behavior of the person in front of you becomes really suspicious or insistent, do not hesitate to dial 17. You now have all the keys in hand to avoid being trapped.