MADISON, Wis. -- It seems harmless at first, but state and local officials -- as well as parents -- are urging residents to watch out for out-of-state traveling sales crews.

State consumer protection officials say the crews are now operating in Madison and Green Bay, trying to recruit unsuspecting young people who in turn may try to sell you magazines.

Homeowner Kim Ligon ran into such salespeople when she lived in New York.

"It was mostly magazine subscriptions and you could never get a straight story about who they were representing or where the money was really going," Ligon said. "I usually said no and I usually felt kinda bad, but..."

But local and state officials say you shouldn't feel bad.

Officials say if a salesperson comes to your door, ask to see their city solicitor's permit.

Madison Police Public Information Officer Larry Kamholz says you need one to sell anything.

"If somebody comes to your door that doesn't have a solicitor permit, don't be doing business with them cause they're not verified to be a reputable type of person or business," Kamholz said. "It's really important people ask for a permit."

Phil Ellenbecker has spent thousands on posters and dedicated his life to ending the sales practices.

For good reason.

His 18-year-old daughter died when a van carrying a 14-member traveling sales crew crashed near Janesville.

Seven were killed and five were seriously hurt in the 1999 accident.

"I think about my daughter every day of my life and I work towards the end that I can stop this," he said.

His Web site documents the accidents and abuse endured by salespeople across the country and the crimes some of them commit against homeowners.

"This is a very nasty business and a very dangerous business," Ellenbecker said.

Ellenbecker claims one 21-year-old former salesman just got life in prison for raping and murdering a Tennessee homeowner.

He says 53 crew members (young people) and people who answered the door (citizens) have died in relation to travelling sales crews.

Ellenbecker and other parents want distributors and publishers held accountable.

You can find out more about the legislation parents are pushing on Ellenbecker's Web site: www.travelingsalescrews.info.