My husband had the same experience as the scenario presented by JNK (posting dated Apr. 6). A young lady came to our door and said that she was a student at a local high scool and lived on the next block. She gave the same speil about ESPN sponsering an Internship for "Honor Students" (shame on her). She said that her school was sponsering this fund raiser to help with expenses. Half of the money was to go to the fund raiser and the rest would go to a charity, and any military group that he could name. He is an 80 year old veteran and donates reguarly to DAV, so he asked for his donation go to the Cancer Society and Walter Reed Hospital. She wrote a Washington DC address down under military which he assumed (never assume) was for Walter Reed and she signed the order with the name Victoria Smith, the same name as the person in JnK2004's posting. So, in April she lived in York PA and Nottingham MD - I don't think so.
I was out at the time of the transaction, but when I came home and realized that he had written such a large check to a stranger I became suspicious and began to investigate. When I saw the BBB report I knew he had been scammed, so we cancelled our check and the order. Since then I decided to send copies by certified mail so that they can not say they didn't receive the cancellation. I have checked on the address in DC &1120 G St. NW suite#700 and it is an office building&Walter Reed has moved to the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda MD.
I notice on their receipts that they have numerous disclaimers, most of them cover the practices that the salesperson uses. I would love to get a copy of their training manusript. I am sure it presents these scam artists with various sales pitches, using charities and military veterans as their bait.
I only wish I could meet up with that "honor" student Victoria and introduce her to her "namesake" in PA.
I am sending all of my documentation to the Attorney General of Maryland's Office of Consumer Protection and hope that they can shut down this operation in our state.
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