A polite young man came to my door saying he was raising money for a University trip to dive the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and he was selling magazines to finance the trip. He said his mom lived a couple of blocks away from me & walks her Golden Retriever on my street with another neighbor who has an Airedale. He seemed a little surprised I didn't know who she was. His dad is serving in Iraq and if I didn't need mags, I could send them to the troops - he even had an approved list they liked.
He was fairly "high pressure, " too familiar & mentioned names of neigbors I know to say "she donated her subscription to the troops, " or "I'm required to ask for a handshake, a high-five or a hug - Mrs. Snyder next door gave me a kiss!" He talked about things he thought I was interested in like travel (I had on an "Oxford" tee shirt & he saw a photo of the Eiffel Tower behind me) and offered to wash my car. ALL the things people on the usacomplaints.com have reported.
He even had an "ID badge" (who couldn't make one of THOSE with a computer & laminating machine?) and a packet of receipts etc. He promised to come back in a month & show me pictures of his trip to the reef - I told him that wasn't necessary, but thanks. He talked quite fast, in "inexact" terms and everything seemed a little "off" to me.
I thought the cost of the subscriptions was very high, but against my better judgement, I wrote a check for $54 for 2 yrs. Of "House & Garden." Immediately after he left, I had a nagging feeling & went online (using the website provided on my receipt) and found a "limited" website describing their company. I did a search and found stories VERY similar to mine where people had the same spiel given to them, had given money & not received items. I also found it funny that although his picture was on the website as a member of their "team, " there were NO last names ANYwhere on the website & very little info. Of real value. The receipt DID say it didn't support scholarship/edu programs & their agents weren't able to state such - which this guy, Jeremy, did. The receipt also stated I could cancel within 3 days, but didn't give a phone number, just an address where I could send my "dated receipt" to cancel. Suspicious.
I felt stupid for giving him a check, criminals can "wash" your checks and use them to gain access to your accounts, so I went right out and walked around my neighborhood. Luckily, I found him a block away, he was talking to someone at their front door, and I said I wanted my check back & to cancel the order. He couldn't dissent much, since he was working on his next sale, but asked why. I just told him I'd changed my mind. He asked if I wanted his mom to come by later & I told him no thanks and beat feet home.
I hope I have better sense next time - I can usually tell if kids at my door are neighborhood kids fundraising for school, little league, etc. But, even though I was suspicious, I let this guy sort of high-pressure me into falling for his obviously dishonest spiel. Next time I think I'll just say, "no thanks, magazines are the work of the devil" or "My husband will BEAT me if I spend any money" (both untrue. But then, they're USED to lies) and politely shut the door. That oughtta do it.
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