There is currently a warning circulating about incorrect smoke detector controllers. The general rule is: Do not allow unannounced inspectors, regardless of their type, into the house!
WhatsApp message warns of incorrect smoke detector controllers
The message is already a few years old.
However, it cannot be ruled out that this form of fraud can occur.
This is the following text, the wording of which has not changed for years:

We are currently receiving an internal report from the fire department. ..there are people out and about who work their way from house to house and want to check whether the smoke detectors, which have been legally required since January, are there...don't let them in and call the police. ...an organized criminal gang!!!
Keep posting!! Please don't let anyone in!!! PLEASE SHARE LOTS
The fact check
The warning has been shared since at least 2016 and represents a kind of “symbolic text”. ( we reported )
In addition, this warning has the unpleasant habit of being shared in places where no false smoke detector checks have taken place. In these cases, such a warning creates more hysteria than it is helpful.
However, it cannot be ruled out that this type of fraud actually exists!
We are thinking here of the scams of fake police officers , craftsmen , etc. It is therefore quite conceivable that there are crooks who pose as fire departments.
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The colleagues from CORRECTIV asked and received a statement from the LKA Lower Saxony, according to which
“In the current year, cases in the lower three-digit range were registered in which perpetrators feigned an official function or other authorization to enter the apartment - for example as a tradesman from the electricity, gas or water works - in order to get into their apartment to reach victims. In some cases, smoke detector tests were also carried out on behalf of the fire department.”
Check the smoke detector
Smoke alarms have been required by law in every apartment since 2010. Likewise, the state building regulations of the state of Schleswig-Holstein stipulate in Section 49 Paragraph 4 that ensuring operational readiness is the responsibility of the immediate owners of the apartment. Unless the owner of the apartment assumes this obligation himself.
It is therefore clearly regulated that this is your own responsibility. Tenants only have to clarify whether they themselves or the landlord takes responsibility. But the fire department has nothing to do with it.
Conclusion
The warning, which is sent via WhatsApp, represents a kind of “symbolic text” and has been in circulation for years.
Nevertheless, this text hits the core of the truth as it warns against fraudsters who pretend to be someone they are not - whether they are a police officer, fire brigade member or tradesman.
If in doubt, you can always contact your local police, which is of course generally better than blindly trusting any report on the Internet. Also, do not allow any unannounced inspectors of any kind into the house and inform the police!
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

