Are These Scam Artists at Our Front Door?

If you dont care for the interruptions from them then post a sign on the door area that No solicitation is welcome. Most are properly school kids but spring break just recently was over.

I really couldn't say yes or no to that question, but I actually had the same thing happen about 3 years ago. I had a couple teenage girls come to my door and I bought a magazine subscription from them and never received the magazines. There could be a good reason behind that but who knows.

I had these guys come to my door trying to sell children books. I agree it was odd, especially when I asked for a company name, card or web address and they fumbled with it. (No card or web address btw) I just asked them to leave. If it is a scam, who do we call?

We've had an issue in my neighborhood and the police have advised us they are probably scouting the house for a break-in.

A couple tips they gave:
1) Answer, but DON'T open, the door. Reason is if you don't answer they think you're not home and may try to break in on the spot.

2) Tell them your husband said to say you're not interested. That way they think there is a man home too.

I have had the same thing. What is peculiar is that both times, both kids said their moms came up with the idea. If you find out anything about this, please post for the other moms to see. Sounds fishy to me.

That sounds really suspicious. If they really are teenagers, why aren't they in school??? I wouldn't give them any money.

When I lived in Houston I actually bought a magazine from one of these "kids" and after I wrote the check he then said he needed my drivers lic. as well as my social for some reason or another. I immediately grabbed my check and slammed the door in his face. He would have had all my info. if I hadn't been on guard.

I had one two days ago doing magazine subs, told me he was in college for communications and that this was something they had to do to get over their "jitters" or fears of meeting w/ strangers. the schpeel sounded legit, but still didn't make me buy a magazine!

Being at home alone with children make you such a target! I used to work in local and network news. What you see in the news is only the tip of the iceberg! There are many scam artists, and they have far from your best interest at heart.

Their attempt at peer pressuring a grown woman is laughable. If I go to the door (never open it), I say I'm not interested. They usually try to tell me how all my neighbors are very interested (which is somewhat silly when they tell you about a neighbor whom they claimed just signed onto their scam - and I know the neighbor is away on vacation!). I don't reply - however - I do let my large lab-retriever take care of the rest of the replies.

My advice, for whatever it is worth - if you are home alone with children NEVER open the door for strangers. We live in the internet age - you can order anything (children's books, vacuums, etc.) over the internet, without compromising the safety of you or your children.

Good luck, and stay safe.

S.

I would say yes, they are scam artists in a way. Usually, these "kids" are not actually teenagers. The companies who they are working for hired them because they look young and can pass for teenagers. They teach them their sales pitch and then let them go at it.

I am also a SAHM and learned a few years ago never to open the door to anyone that I didn't know!! My front door has a large window in it, so I can see out and they can see me. I had a man come to my door one day, I didn't open the door, but told him thru the glass "no thank you", then I walked away. He started yelling at me thru the door claiming he wasn't selling anything and had to tell me something very important. After a couple of minutes, he left and I called the cops.

You can never be too careful when you're at home with your little ones by yourself. Even if whoever is knocking at your door looks like a teenager, don't open it. (My only exception is for girl scouts ;-)

Scam???? Not sure, I actually purchased some nice childrens books from one of these guys. Not sure if he was actually the neighbors kid or not, but he seemed like a nice kid none the less, and my books came in, and we love them.

I was on the other side of this and don't know if this is the same thing or not. When I was about 16 there was an ad in the paper for a summer job for teens. There were recruiters set up at a hotel conf room for the interviews and such. Parents were required to attend as well. So, my cousin and I went w/ our moms to check it out. They presented a very legit front to the point where our parents felt ok with it. Anyway, we were going to sell magazines in Dallas (we lived in Okla.) for the summer and earn extra money. It was put to us this way: We would go out in groups only - no one by themselves and would be accompanied always by an adult counselor. The adult would drive us around in neighborhoods and allow two at a time together to go to doors and sell the subscriptions. Here's what really happened: When we got to the location (which all the kids were staying at a hotel), they separated my cousin and me. We would get up very early and meet for a motivational/sales mtg. (which sounded more like some sort of brainwashing chantand then head out. We did go out as a group but after one day of being let out of the car w/ someone, I was then let out in a city by myself from morning until after dark when the car would come back to get me. I was scared to death and ending up sitting in a park or something all day. These kids were so brainwashed. They all thought this leader was wonderful and they were earning trips and making money b/c of him but they had NOTHING! A couple of the girls had been raped and still thought the whole thing was wonderful. One day, my cousin & I finally happened to see each other and we just looked at each other and said "are you ready to go"? We were only there a week. We went together to tell the "leader" that we wanted to go home and he got extremely mad. We had about 5 minutes to get packed what we could in that time and he drove us to the bus station and let us out. Period. No tickets, no nothing. So, I didn't mean for this to be so long but I'm wondering if this type of cult thing is still around - that was a long time ago (I'm 44 now). There were never any magazines to be delivered but these kids were taught to stick their foot in the door and not take no for an answer. They seriously were brainwashed and thought they were earning money & trips. (not one person could tell me a trip they had earned after several years) And, we found out later that this "company" was not based in Dallas but went all over the U.S. after a few months at each place so as not to be caught I guess. If this is still happening and is close to what I witnessed then these kids need help. We live in the country so I don't see anyone like this coming to my door. Just be careful. M.

SCAM!!!! I have been scammed by those sorts of offers!!!! NEVER AGAIN

Hi P., If it where me i would ask for infomation on paper and tell them you need to discus it with your husband. then if it has a # on it contact them and see if they arte for real and if ther not then you have something to go on when you contact your neighborhood watch program and the police if they offer no paper to back up ther claims call the police at once so they canbe checked out for posible thief casing peoples houses for burgles.hope this helps T. aka MOMMA T

I get the ones that are adults claiming to be trying to turn their lives around from drugs or homelessness, etc. They are usually selling magazine subscriptions. I always find it odd that they ask for a bottle of water when you tell them you aren't interested! Anyone have that experience?

Yeah....but in my town it was for the Kirby carpet people. And the teens said if they get so many demonstrations done then they get a trip to padre island or somewhere. Seemed to be legit because my neighbors agreed to let them do it...but we have all hardwood floors haha! But you should always be careful about who you let in your home....you never know.

Those magazine kids weird me out. I even got them all the time when I lived in another state. I have orderd out of pity a cople of times, and have NEVER recieved anything.

I don't usually open the door unless it is a neighborhood kid. But, once I got suckered into the same thing you are describing. I caved and bought some children's books. That was like a year ago and I have never received the books. It was only like $9, and I'm not sure the check was ever even cashed. But, still...what did they do with the info from my check??? A bit shady if you ask me. OH, and the way I got suckered was because they told me they were "so and so's" son from around the corner. Well, they were not anyone's kid from my neighborhood! I checked! Another kid (college age) came by twice telling me he was so and so's kid trying to earn a trip somewhere. Well, I learned my lesson with the book guy and don't buy stuff from anyone...except the elementary kids I actually know from the neighborhood. I don't even open the door...just shout "No Thanks!" and walk away!

I don't know about the others, but I can vouch somewhat for the Kirby kids. I used to work for Kirby(doing what those kids that come to your door are doing). I was never good and selling anything to anyone, so I quit early into it. But I'd talked to people(salespeople, not leaders/managers, etc) who had actually won trips and bonuses. This was in NC, and we were told that there was a yearly cruise for Kirby employees, and you had to have so many demonstrations to be eligible to go for free. Also, I know someone with a Kirby vaccuum and became quite familiar with it while training. It's a good product. So while there may be some shady Kirby people out there, I do know that the business and the product are legit.

As for the magazine folks, I've done it once a while ago, and I did receive my magazine(got lucky I guess). And my mom's done it once as well. We try not to buy into any of the hype. Sad to say, there are at least 3-4 people knocking on our door every weekend.

I'd find out what school they are from and call the school. If they are giving you a different pitch each and every time, then I wouldn't buy anything or sign anything for them.

You never know anymore. I remember the days when you could go door-to-door and nobody gave it a second thought.