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Magazine solicitors may be trying to sell you a line

That friendly sales spiel at the door may be the cover for a scam.

By ELISABETH DYER
Published January 12, 2007

The spiel goes something like this: A friendly young man at your door says he's selling magazines to raise money for his volleyball team's trip to play in a championship game in Maui.

He says he's a student at the University of Tampa, and he's your neighbor; you've probably seen his mom walking her dog on the street every morning. And hey, if you don't want any magazines, you can always donate them to the Boys and Girls Club.

Before pulling out your checkbook, you may want to call the police, said Tampa police Officer Lisa Parashis.

"If you feel that they're misrepresenting who they are, definitely call," she said.

During the past month in Beach Park, Emmy Reynolds has had three such solicitors.

One, a girl, said she was a student at Tampa Catholic and lived on a nearby street.

Reynolds, who works in real estate, then asked the girl her address. She knew the girl's response was bogus and told her so.

"Too many people are so trusting," Reynolds said. "These people are here for no good."

Police answered a similar call months ago. Solicitors who claimed to be students at the University of South Florida were selling magazines to support their athletic department. A detective verified that USF was not supporting the fundraiser and notified neighbors. Police couldn't catch up with the solicitors.

In Washington the local Better Business Bureau issued a warning in October about a Georgia company, United Family Circulation, which was canvassing neighborhoods in Spokane, Wash. The company, which has a record with the bureau because of unanswered complaints, also operates under the name Ultimate Power Sales Inc.

According to the complaints, a young adult "represented him- or herself as neighbors or students trying to earn money for a school in the area."

Sounds familiar, although no such complaints have been filed with the local bureau.

In Hyde Park, resident William LaMartin knows the spiel. "They seem to come in spurts; a couple in one month and then you won't see them for a while." He never buys. "My philosophy is be polite; be firm; close the door."

Often these solicitors are persistent.

"One wouldn't leave the porch," said Reynolds. "He said 'I'm not trying to sell you anything' and pulled a pamphlet from his pocket." When she told him to leave, he replied: "I'm not going to hurt you."

"I tell them, don't come back."

Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at edyer@sptimes.com or 813 226-3321.

Fast Facts:

Don't be a victim

Here are tips from the Better Business Bureau to deal with solicitors:

1. If you have an unresolved issue concerning United Family Circulation, file a formal complaint with the Atlanta BBB at: www.atlanta.bbb.org and your State Attorney General's Office.

2. Research the companies with the BBB before signing, agreeing to or paying any door-to-door merchant or salesperson. Go to: www.bbb.org to look up their reports.

3. Be very wary of letting strangers into your home. If you feel suspicious activity is occurring or the salesperson won't properly disclose who they are, who they are with, and some form of identification, contact your local police department and file a report. Give a description, etc., of the people and/or the vehicles they are driving.

4. Checks should be made payable to the company, not to any individual's name.

5. Take notes. Consumers are advised to not let anyone walk away from a transaction without getting the proper information on the company. Obtain and keep a record of the company's name, address and phone number, as well as the date of the transaction and the titles of the magazines ordered.

6. Be cautious. Consumers should be cautious about giving credit card numbers to unfamiliar persons or companies.

7. Check them out. If someone says they are representing a familiar school or official organization, tell them to leave you materials and you will research before deciding whether to get involved before you agree to anything. Call the official association or school to determine whether the pitch is legitimate.

Source: Better Business Bureau

[Last modified January 11, 2007, 09:16:56]