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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Magazine Sales In Pittsville

"Joe,

Apparently the magazine scam has made it to Pittsville. A friend of mine around 5:00 Friday night received a visitor at her door selling magazines. She said at first she thought he was a homeless man from the way he was dressed and had a speech impediment. Then he continued to tell her he was selling magazines so that he could go to veterinary school. She said he had to be 50 years old or so. She told him she was not interested and he became agitated. He proceeded to try to convince her to buy and then asked how many dogs she had and if they bit. I told her I had read about a scam that you had put on here and that she should call the Sheriff's Office and tell them what happened. While talking to me she saw two police cars go by her house.

When she called the Sheriff's Office, they told her they were aware of the man and deputies had made contact with him and spoke to him. They told her there were 8 people in the area selling the magazines. The dispatcher/operator didn't seem to concern. While on my way home I saw a male standing along the road, about a mile from her home, for about a half hour fitting his description. I guess from the way this was treated, it is not illegal to sell magazines that one does not have for sale. I thought this was a scam and he was left along with the others to continue and then waited for his ride.

Just a warning, information got out and they left Salisbury to hit the small towns."

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

About a week ago a young man, maybe 18-20 years old with a speech impediment and a slight degree of mental retardation, visited our home near Fruitland. He said he was selling magazines as part of a project. I declined to purchase, and he left. Wonder if it's a coincidence that the older man and the younger had speech problems. Could they be victims of the scam as well?

Anonymous said...

omg this happen to me too. He really scared me and i was rude with him and he said I wasnt nice..lol..
But a womans head tells her different...

Tidewaterbound said...

Strange people who show up here and won't leave when invited to are at extreme risk of being shot.

Even the most persistent with their tracts have learned NOT to come door knocking here.

God bless the 2nd Amendment.

Anonymous said...

why is it, whenever someone comes to your door its a scam?? paranoid much?? get a life. where's the proof?

Anonymous said...

I bought the magazines. The guy looked to be about 30 years old and he had all kinds of credentials with him and he dropped a lot of names of other business people on Northwood Dr. that he said supported him. I really thought he was legit, even though he didnt seem like college material. He had a speech impediment and he was very big - like 6'-3" 275 lbs. blondish hair. Said he was earning points that would eventually get him $1000 towards tuition at N.C. State. If you all are correct I guess I can kiss that Readers Digest good-bye.

Tidewaterbound said...

7:24

kiss it goodbye

Anonymous said...

7:24
My young white guy with the speech impediment was about 5'7" tall and weighed about 150 pounds. The "project" had something to do with additional schooling. Is it a coincidence that all of the three men mentioned (two young, one older) had speech impediments?

Anonymous said...

7:24 and eveyone else, The average yearly cost of the vet. program for out-of-state students at NC State is about $52000.00 a year. I doubt he is an honest person.

Also, it seems that alot of these magazine sales persons are mentioning their intent to attend a professional program at a university. Admissions to these programs are HIGHLY competitive and if they dont appear to be Dr. material they most likely are not.

Anonymous said...

He had a speech impediment and he was very big - like 6'-3" 275 lbs. blondish hair.

The man in Pittsville Friday night was not this big. More like 5'11" and closer to 200 lbs.

Anonymous said...

8:05
You are so right. The young man who came to my house was mildly retarded, gave a rehearsed little talk but could not answer even the most basic questions about what he was doing. I had no confidence that he was telling the truth and that money given to him would purchase actual magazine subscriptions.