16 replies to this topic

[folsomNB]

Lately I've had kids claiming to be college kids with different varying stories selling magazines to raise money for something or other - scholarship programs, trips abroad, etc.

What's weird is some are going to school in Las Vegas, or in So Cal but are knocking doors during the day, midweek and on weekends, now after school has started.

When I question it they give some sort of excuse.

Anyway these kids smell like rats to me. And part of me worries if they are casing or something equally malicious.

So anyone else experiencing this? Is your kid involved in anything like this? Or scam?

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

The local middle schools are selling magazines - why not support the LOCAL schools?

[folsom500]

Lately I've had kids claiming to be college kids with different varying stories selling magazines to raise money for something or other - scholarship programs, trips abroad, etc.

What's weird is some are going to school in Las Vegas, or in So Cal but are knocking doors during the day, midweek and on weekends, now after school has started.

When I question it they give some sort of excuse.

Anyway these kids smell like rats to me. And part of me worries if they are casing or something equally malicious.

So anyone else experiencing this? Is your kid involved in anything like this? Or scam?

Ask them What school and who is the Dean ? Most likely they are imported out of work people brought in via a van to canvas neighborhoods to sell the stuff - which you may or may not ever see.

[MrsTuffPaws]

I have always heard it is more of a scam on the college kids, than a scam on us. The kids really believe they will make money and win a trip somewhere if their "team" sells enough subscriptions. Instead the kids are shuttled off to strange cities and holed up in a dingy motel room, and spend all day on foot going door to door trying to work off whatever they owe to their "employer." It's like a pyramid scheme. As long as you just buy the product and don't get roped into selling, you should be fine.

We ordered a magazine subscription from someone like this once years and years ago. We did receive the magazine.

[jhutch]

I had a "student" come by our house a couple weeks ago- she said she was from washington state...that she was supposed to be "meeting" people to get used to talking to strangers b/c she was in the nursing program....so I went along with the story but then she said that people have been opening their doors to talk to her but that she was having trouble completing her assignment. I asked what the assignment was and she said to sell childrens magazines and books. I told her no and then went back inside the house. As I was telling my husband the story the more I questioned her story. I still don't know if it was a hoax or not but it was weird...

[Bill Z]

The local middle schools are selling magazines - why not support the LOCAL schools?

While I don't mind supporting local schools, I never buy magazines from anyone going door to door. The only things I do buy are girl scout cookies where I take immediate delivery as I hand over cash. Now those weekend $5 carwashes at the Folsom Middle School usually get me 3 times in one day. Once when I first see them, and then 2 more cars after I get home, tell the wife and we take two more cars through their line.

[folsomNB]

I had a "student" come by our house a couple weeks ago- she said she was from washington state...that she was supposed to be "meeting" people to get used to talking to strangers b/c she was in the nursing program....so I went along with the story but then she said that people have been opening their doors to talk to her but that she was having trouble completing her assignment. I asked what the assignment was and she said to sell childrens magazines and books. I told her no and then went back inside the house. As I was telling my husband the story the more I questioned her story. I still don't know if it was a hoax or not but it was weird...

This girl today had a very similar story. That they had some communication project and because they had tatoos they had to go and talk to people but to keep the points from their assignment they had to sell the magazines. When I questioned her further since her friend was at a different school with the same assignment she said it was for a scholarship program they were both in. Seemed very hoax like. And her and a kid who came buy last week both were into asking questions and high fiveing you.

[jhutch]

This girl today had a very similar story. That they had some communication project and because they had tatoos they had to go and talk to people but to keep the points from their assignment they had to sell the magazines. When I questioned her further since her friend was at a different school with the same assignment she said it was for a scholarship program they were both in. Seemed very hoax like. And her and a kid who came buy last week both were into asking questions and high fiveing you.

Yes, exactly, the girl that came to my door said she needed to get the "points" for her assignment. And she was asking me a lot of questions...so as she was asking me the more I started to think...hmm...so i started asking her questions and it just got weird! Her introduction was that she needed to meet 150 nice and harmless people? Then she said it was for a school project and asked what type of work I did! I thought maybe she went to the high school and was doing some kind of career homework project!!! Then she asked what my husband did...weird...

[jhutch]

Yes, exactly, the girl that came to my door said she needed to get the "points" for her assignment. And she was asking me a lot of questions...so as she was asking me the more I started to think...hmm...so i started asking her questions and it just got weird! Her introduction was that she needed to meet 150 nice and harmless people? Then she said it was for a school project and asked what type of work I did! I thought maybe she went to the high school and was doing some kind of career homework project!!! Then she asked what my husband did...weird...

The more I think about it...if they are from out of state...are they really here for so many weeks trying to sell magazines? Couldn't they save the money from traveling out of state for a week and put it towards their magazines?!

[camay2327]

I always as them if they have a permit to sell in Folsom and they never do so I send them on their way.

The kids that live in our area, I will and do purchase from. Not magazines though as we have to many now.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Yes, exactly, the girl that came to my door said she needed to get the "points" for her assignment. And she was asking me a lot of questions...so as she was asking me the more I started to think...hmm...so i started asking her questions and it just got weird! Her introduction was that she needed to meet 150 nice and harmless people? Then she said it was for a school project and asked what type of work I did! I thought maybe she went to the high school and was doing some kind of career homework project!!! Then she asked what my husband did...weird...

That kind of questioning gives me the creeps. You have no idea what she's doing with that information. She could be casing your house, trying to figure out how much you two make, whatever.

As has been pointed out, people going door to door should have a business permit, although I will consider requests from local school children.

[Terry]

That kind of questioning gives me the creeps. You have no idea what she's doing with that information. She could be casing your house, trying to figure out how much you two make, whatever.

As has been pointed out, people going door to door should have a business permit, although I will consider requests from local school children.

ALWAYS ask them to show their permit from the City of Folsom. They're required to have them in order to sell door to door within the City of Folsom. I've always asked them to show their permit and they try to show me their ID or something - none have every been "legal" per City code. I do however help with the yearly school fundraisers, however, I deal with the children in my neighborhood whom I know.

[trollpt]

Lately I've had kids claiming to be college kids with different varying stories selling magazines to raise money for something or other - scholarship programs, trips abroad, etc.

What's weird is some are going to school in Las Vegas, or in So Cal but are knocking doors during the day, midweek and on weekends, now after school has started.

When I question it they give some sort of excuse.

Anyway these kids smell like rats to me. And part of me worries if they are casing or something equally malicious.

So anyone else experiencing this? Is your kid involved in anything like this? Or scam?

Please DO NOT let these magazine sales kids in your home.
Go to the phone and call the police.
We have recorded over 300 high profile criminal felony cases and 86 deaths.
Sincerely,
Phil Ellenbecker
Director
Dedicated Memorial Parents Group
www.travelingsalescrews.info
www.dedicatedmemorial.org

[Steve Heard]

From the stories I remember, these companies advertise jobs which involve, fun, travel, adventure and meeting new people.

The kids who sign up are often underachievers, drop-outs, without prospects, etc.

They are taken out of town because that puts more pressure on them to perform. They are trained in what to say and do, then dropped off in neighborhoods and have to meet a daily quota or are threatened with being left behind.

In some cases, criminal minded kids have been hired and have stolen things from homes, or worse.

I felt sorry for one of these guys a few years back and bought a couple of magazines.

Today, if I open the door to them, I just tell them 'no thanks', and shut the door.

[irish1]

The door to door magazine sales by these 'college students' is a selling mill, just as Steve has pointed out. The sales people are dropped off into neighborhoods, sometimes by the dozen(s), and they saturate the area taking orders for magazines, and accepting cash and personal checks (poss. I.D. theft?) for the orders from the customers.

I have yet to actually meet one of them that is a 'college student.' That is just a sales pitch, read - B.S. - to lower the customers anxiety, and maybe build a small trust factor to increase the possibility of a sale. Most are from out of state, and very rarely do they have a solid form of identification on them, so we can do a sound record check on them for arrest warrants etc...

The company running the show is usually an 'LLC Company,' with an obscure address and phone number, and that's if we can dig deep enough during the contact to find it. When we are called re: solicitors, we make contact and issue cites for no licenses, advising them to cease sales and move from the area, until they obtain permits etc...