Door-to-door smoke alarm sales raise suspicions for some

HAWAII KAI, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - These days, you can never be too careful when it comes to scams.

That's why a number of Oahu residents got suspicious after getting knocks on their doors from people offering to check their smoke alarms as part of a "fire prevention week awareness" campaign.

Several called police and the Honolulu Fire Department, but it turns out the people going door-to-door weren't trying to scam anyone. They were trying to sell their smoke detection devices to them.

One resident explained why her encounter with one of the door-to-door salespeople left her concerned: "She said, 'Hi, this is fire prevention week and we're here to check your fire alarms and your smoke detector system. May we come in?"

The resident said the woman stopped by her Koko Head Terrace apartment on Monday afternoon. When she told her she didn't want her fire alarms checked, the woman asked, "Are you sure? It's a free service we're doing this week for fire prevention week."

That statement was a red flag for the resident.

Besides the fact that fire prevention week is in October, she said the woman never really introduced her self and quickly flashed a laminated badge.

"There was another boy. I could see him across the street. He was talking to my neighbors across the street. They never once identified the company," the resident said.

Police and HFD confirmed they've gotten calls describing similar situations involving people wearing blue shirts with a logo and a laminated badge around their necks.

Hawaii News Now found one company, Omnishield, which sells fire detectors and said their employees do wear a similar uniform and have been going door to door inspecting smoke alarms across Oahu as well as Kauai, Maui and the Big Island.

The Better Business Bureau says OmniShield has no complaints in Hawaii.

Police said if you're unsure about who's at the door, never let them into your home.

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