"I wanted to let everyone know about a scam that is going on in Salisbury. I had 2 teenage girls stop by our home on Monday evening about 4:30pm. They handed me a laminated flyer of books and magazines they said they were selling to earn points for a trip at their college. The girls said they were my neighbors down the street. They also said that they were sponsored by Barnes and Noble and suggesting that you buy the books, then donate them to Johns Hopkins. They will say ANYTHING to get money out of you. In my case, they told me it was for Autism research….they probably read my bumper sticker. They will ask if you have pets, a dog for example. Do not leave your animal out in the yard because they will steal your dog and sell it for money. They showed me a receipt and said that “this is what your neighbors are spending” ($110). They will say anything to “relate” to make you feel guilty to give them money. When I told them I could not afford anything, they asked me if I could do half, I said no, then they tried to get me to make a contribution and they would come back and wash my car. I did not give them anything, but my aide just called me and told me that this is a scam. Another lady she works for got hit as well as her neighbor and she’s reported it to the police, I did also. Apparently, there is a man that there is a warrant out for his arrest…he collects kids on drugs or who are homeless, promises them a hotel or food, make a little money etc. and then drops a group of them off in developments to go door to door. This man is dangerous and I’m told that these kids are known to seek revenge also if you do not donate. So make sure your home and cars are locked up and that your animals are kept inside when you are not out with them, and of course children too.
To think that I felt guilty not giving them money, then to find out it was a scam. I reported it to the police as soon as I found out. They are hitting Salisbury hard. Report anything suspicious. Alert your neighbors."
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
They hit our house yesterday. My wife was home and she allowed the girls in to make their pitch. Unfortunately she did place an order. She said they were very polite and seemed sincere. One girl said she lived in the neighborhood and she told my wife which house it was. My wife knows most of our neighbors and she started to feel uncormfortable and suspicious. She let them leave with the check and order form but after a several minutes she went to look for the girls and get the money back. They were at the end of the street waiting for their ride. To make a long story short she got the check back. A guy in a gray van picked the girls up. He seemed very strange so my wife was just trying to leave, she didn't get a tag number or anything.
ReplyDeleteI think this is one of the things that makes salisbury news so great. You don't see this in The Daily Times and probably won't. If they do get around to it, it will probably get buried in a back section and not give it the attention it deserves. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
ReplyDeleteThey hit my house on Tuesday and i was dumb enought to give them money with a check for 67.00 for Elmo books and videos for my son, what a mistake, we are cancelling the check as i write this. I thought this might be a scam since afterwards my neighbor told me that they told them it was 110.00. Should i call the cops and report this, i live in Fruitland.
ReplyDeleteYes! Call the cops.
ReplyDeleteI've had college age kids do that and come to student housing where I used to live. They will say anything.
ReplyDeleteHell with enough gumption you can take real magazine subscription stuff from legitimate sources, make your own order sheets, and presto you got a plan. All you need is a sucker then.
A lot of these kids are stuck in very bad situations(e.g., getting beat up, not getting paid or fed, etc).
ReplyDeleteGo to http://www.parentwatch.org/ to learn more.
When these kids show up at your door give them this information:
917.579.4641 (I think they can call collect).
Contact Parent Watch, Inc.
Parent Watch, Inc.
2790 Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10025
info@parentwatch.org
and any better description on the van?
ReplyDeleteThis happened to me last week.. but it was as male.. I bought books for my kids.. i gave him cash.. wish i knew about this earlier.. but atleast i know now. Thanks Joe.
ReplyDeleteAlso we have had people coming around in little pick ups with freezers in the back selling steaks.. never bought any.. but this could be a scam also.. next time i will get a description of the vehicles.. if any.. and report it. Thanks Joe.. great Work!
A family friend, 18 years old, answered an advertisement in the Sussex Guide awhile ago, for an "exciting opportunity for a job" which promised all expenses paid travel, no training or specific skills required. The next thing this kid knows he's on a bus on his way to meet his "group" in Florida. When he arrived there were 20+ kids living in a seedy hotel, and the "leader" would take them in a van to the entrance to an upscale neighborhood and let them out. When he would return he would expect each of them to have gotten orders for magazines or books, the propaganda for which they each had.
ReplyDeleteI think the unwitting customers would eventually receive their orders, but the kids would only get pennies per order, and had to live like steerage. Family friend kid was home in a week, with his tail between his legs.
They have hit Kensington Woods neighborhood.. Please watch out!!!
ReplyDeleteThey have hit Eastfields Neighborhood in Fruitland
ReplyDeleteOMG! Thank you to the person who posted the parentwatch.org link! I went there, found the article about magazine crews ( here it is ):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/us/21magcrew.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1215717024-OSjAGu6eEtwAnPhpQp2jZw
Once you click on Enter on the ParentWatch site, they have how to file a complaint, too.
But the best thing we can do for these kids is give them that phone to help get them home. What if it were your kid? Read that article!
Joe, this one post is one of the best community services you could have done. Thank you!
And parents, don't let your kids answer ads like those -- they are like the work at home scams, but even more dangerous. Help your kid get work the old fashioned way, where you know where they are and the conditions they are working under.
a girl was in nithsadle yesterday evening..said she went to temple
ReplyDeleteA young man came to my house Tuesday evening. I'm glad I didn't buy anything. I live in Barrington Ridge off Nanticoke Rd.
ReplyDeleteYep, my neighbor called last night about the same thing. We all live in Sleepy Hollow and the kids said that they lived on a street (Fire Fly Dr) in the community. Well, that street is part of the 55+ section of the development so right there they are untruthful. I never had any idea this was as big as it is. Maybe they'll solicit some of the MSP that live on our street!
ReplyDeleteThe strangest solicitation that ever rang my door bell occurred about ten years ago.A tractor-trailer was parked in front of my house and the men were trying to sell brand new furniture.I declined,but my neighbor across the street purchased a living room suite.
ReplyDeleteWe had someone earlier this week tell us he went to UNC and was raising money for a trip by selling these books. We fell for it and gave a check (we stopped payment on it after reading this). Not ten minutes ago, another young man just came to our door trying to sell us magazines to pay for his college tuition.
ReplyDeleteI had a young man (early 20s), blond hair, stop by my house in Nutters Crossing. He said his parents live in Nutters and he is raising money for a SU trip to London to work for the BBC. He was very polite, but his fast talk and slight nervousness (and the fact my dog wanted to bite him) made me question him. When I said I was not willing to donate, he asked for $20. I said I was hard on cash.
ReplyDeleteI then asked him if there was a way I could reach him later if my parents would like to donate. He said he was hoping to finish up collecting what he needed tonight.
When these kids ask for money give them a slip of paper with the phone number to Parent Watch on it!
ReplyDeleteI dont know if parent watch is the answer to the two that came to my house because the one girl had a cell phone and was texting her so called boyfried back in forth, the two girls i had said they were from Michigan St. and were going to be on Shark Week on Discovery channel in Australia. One said she lived nearby and the other lived in Essex, MD. But one did have a cell phone so saying just let them make a call would not work with my two
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThe strangest solicitation that ever rang my door bell occurred about ten years ago.A tractor-trailer was parked in front of my house and the men were trying to sell brand new furniture.I declined,but my neighbor across the street purchased a living room suite.
4:46 PM
That is still a selling strategy today. I had a truck going through my neighborhood last summer, with the driver telling me a big delivery got cancelled, and their boss told them to sell it cheap. It's not really a scam, but just deceptive marketing, because I grilled the driver and he told me that's just how they do business. I don't know if he had a peddler's license, but I'm sure he did.
Same for these magazine crews. They might be legit sales agents, just trying to play at your heart strings to make a sale. It's the fact that they never see all their commisions according to that NY Times article that bothers me the most.
If they decide to come by here I'll make sure to give them one of Mike Lewis's business cards while I'm polishing my 9mm
ReplyDeleteHis cards are a deterent themselves
anyone coming to my door with this bull-shit will be starin down the end of pistol, they want to play games, ill take them on a game ride i know they aint ready for.
ReplyDeleteI had 2 young girls come up to my door selling the magazines probably 2 months ago. I didnt think anything of it. I live in Delmar. Im glad i declined.
ReplyDeleteSo you're going to shot a couple of young adults because they are at your door asking for money? Boy, you must really be a tough guy, right? How about not answering the door or just telling them no.
ReplyDeleteCruggly--you are joking, right ? If not,call 911 and ask them to send somebody to help YOU.
ReplyDeleteOMG..Joe. Can't believe this. Just went ghetto here in Crofton with a scam like this. The guy behind the wheel actually pushed the kids out. Were purporting to sell children's books; but has been magazines/steaks/et. in the past. get tag numbers: they saw me and my dog and could not get away fast enough..in fact too fast for me to get the tag..BTW before pullling trigger to post-that Elmo type spiel sounds familiar..in Crofton;large bright Red older van. Middle-schoolage black male; even younger white male. adult white male driver 30-45; would not produce ID and hit the highway when I confronted his apparent lack of courtesy with the children. wish i had that ParentWatch info. a couple hours ago; but I have it (and a cell phone camera for tag numbers) now.
ReplyDeleteif you have a picture phone why not also get a picture of pan handlers while you are at it, chit tag may be on a stolen vehicle. some of you are so clueless no wonder you get scammed
ReplyDeleteI didn't get scammed, stunad. His chicken crap butt hit the highway when he saw me coming; If you weren't so g.d. drunk yourself you would have comprehended I had taken my dog out for a squirt without my camera. What are you going to do to improve the problem besides bump your gums here; I'd bet $1,000 you have a mullet, two ex-wives and lost all profits to your mobile home wheels after a ding-dang bad night at Keno.
ReplyDeleteI doubt peddlers will come to my very rural door but I do have a concern about those of you who let strange people in your home!I would not let anyone unknown to me or my family enter my home-PERIOD.They could do anything to you once they get into the door-just ask the poor elderly fella that got jacked in his home some months ago after answering the door.If they are legit they will leave a flyer or business card or SOMETHING.
ReplyDeleteAlso we have had people coming around in little pick ups with freezers in the back selling steaks.. never bought any.. but this could be a scam also.. next time i will get a description of the vehicles.. if any.. and report it. Thanks Joe.. great Work!
ReplyDelete2:34 PM
About 4 years ago they came to my house selling steaks in Pittsville... we bought them and they were great.
As far as people selling books or magazine door to door... the legit people do not require money up front. I bought a subscription about 9 years ago in Salisbury and didnt have to pay up front. After the college girl left she left a yellow sticker on the door letting other know that the house had already been approched.
Bottom line is... do not pay before seeing the product or a confirmation.
Guys selling steaks out of the back of trucks... I have been approached and I can say that there is NO FREAKING WAY I would EVER buy FOOD like that.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know where the steaks came from? Do you know when they were packaged? How long have they been frozen? Were they ever thawed, then frozen again?
With everything going on in the world of food safety today I wouldn't chance it for one second, I don't care if they gave them to me for nothing!
Anon 11:01 - Amen! When they came to my door I told them I had been at Sam's yesterday and stocked up on all the steaks I needed... Who knows WHAT they could have done to the food!
ReplyDeleteThe blond haired nervous kid came by our house in Wolfe Creek off Nanticoke Rd. My husband asked him some questions (about where he lived) and then said we would pass on what he was selling. He looked like he was on drugs. Anyways, the next morning when I was pulling out of our driveway I saw a green star shaped reflective sticker on the side of our mailbox. This wasn't there when I got home from work (and got the mail) that day before he came. Just thought it is worth mentioning incase they are marking homes for some reason.
ReplyDeleteits a game people, i probably wouldnt shot anyone, but id make them pee their pants. if it was a man, and i felt threatened, he would be dead on my lawn and i would sleep like a baby.
ReplyDeletecruggly -
ReplyDeleteSince you wouldn't "shot" anyone... and the man will be dead... how will he die?
You have nunchuck skills?
I am not that guy who wrote that post;but why would I risk a pathetic visual display of phony force with nunchucks when I am only going to eventually bruise my own onions while the guy runs off laughing at me. Wasn't there a Beatle's song to the effect "Happiness is a Fast German Shepherd"? If someone legitimately tries to force entry in my home, where I have exhausted my perception of my duty to retreat, you can guarentee I am going Tackleberry, not Bruce Lee.
ReplyDeletei sure hope that they aren't marking homes (i need to go look at our mailbox). BUT our newspaper delivery person put similar stickers on our mailbox/newspaper box when we started our subscription - we just changed our subscription from daily to sunday only - so i wonder if they'll change those stickers.
ReplyDeleteFunny, about an hour ago I heard two car doors. When I looked out the window there was a small 80's model red pickup truck parked in front of my house. I thought the person walking up to my door was someone I knew. As I went to the door, I noticed another man walking towards the house across the street. They were selling chicken, steaks, and seafood. There was a small white magnetic sign on the door, but was unable to read it. This is probably the fourth time our house has been approached. We live on the backside of Fruitland off of Walnut Tree Rd. The man was very polite, probably mid to late 30's, african-american, maybe 5'4"-5'6". The other man was also african-american, but probably in his 60's.
ReplyDeleteDidn't buy anything, can't bear the thought of buying meat from a stranger out of a truck!?!
so Cruggly, basically your theme song is "Everybody was kung fu fighting... your kicks were fast as lightning...and it was a little bit frightning when Cruggly started kung fu fighting"...or something like that.
ReplyDeleteAnon 1.57 did the van look like it had ladders and tools? i keep seeing one riding by my house every morning and evening. Its just a coincidence that they've hit my neighbor hood to. Its kind of funny that they stole three of my neighbors refrigerators full of cabbage!
ReplyDeletei don't know karate, but i know, i-swing-low
ReplyDelete