March 26, 2009: Wisconsin Passes 'Malinda's Act'On March 24, 2009 Malinda's Traveling Sales Crew Protection Act (SB-4)was passed by the Wisconsin Senate (27-6) and by the Wisconsin House of Representatives (68-30) On March 26, 2009 Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed the bill into law. For more information please contact Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach Web Site: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/sen27/news Senator Jon Erpenbach 8 South, State Capitol P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707-7882 (608)266-6670 or toll-free (888) 549-0027 Fax: (608) 266-2508 E-mail: Sen.Erpenbach@legis.wi.gov Read Press Release More information on the new legislation can also be found on this web site. "Malinda's Act" becomes active in the state of Wisconsin on April 10, 2010. |
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Yarmouth, Massachusetts Passes Strict Door-to-Door Sales 'No Knock' Solicitation Ordinance/Regulations DOOR TO DOOR BY-LAW-codified.htm Read This New 'No Knock' Solicitation Law For more information: Contact: Officer Frank Frederickson Yarmouth, Massachusetts Police Department http://www.yarmouth.ma.us/index.aspx?NID=128 Yarmouth, Massachusetts: http://www.yarmouth.ma.us |
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CARE2petitionsite NO 2 DOOR-TO-DOOR Target: To stop solicitation in private areas such as houses, cell phones, and personal email Sponsored by: NODOOR2DOOR.ORG http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-2-door-to-door |
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Time Magazine: The Press: Slamming the Door Monday, Jun. 18, 1951 Three associations, representing door-to-door sellers of everything from Fuller Brushes to encyclopedias, joined with Breard to appeal his case, since the law dealt a heavy blow to the house-to-house selling of $1.4 billion in consumer goods each year, including some 10,000,000 magazine subscriptions. They wanted to test the constitutionality of the "Green River" ordinance which over 400 U.S. communities have adopted since Green River, Wyo. passed the first one in 1931 to slam the door on solicitors. Breard's lawyers charged that his arrest violated both freedom of the press and free speech. Last week, by 6-to-3, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled otherwise, affirmed the right of any community to restrict door-to-door selling. Justice Stanley Reed, speaking for the majority, wrote: "Subscriptions may be made by anyone interested in receiving the magazines without the annoyances of house-to-house canvassing." http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,814989,00.html |
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Arrests of salesmen in bloody Osceola County beating attracts attention of national group monitoring door-to-door magazine sales. Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Midwest Circulation LLC December 31, 2009 Arrests of salesmen in bloody Osceola County beating attracts attention of national group monitoring door-to-door magazine sales. By Henry Pierson Curtis, Orlando Sentinel 5:06 p.m. EST, December 31, 2009 Parent Watch, one of the groups, has been following the industry for 30 years that hires young adults to travel across country in teams selling magazine subscriptions to earn points for prizes, cash awards and shopping sprees. "The crews for the most point seem to be more on edge than ever before because they can't sell," said Parent Watch founder Earline Williams, who handles two to six phone calls a day from frightened, stranded workers seeking bus fare home. "The industry's ouf of control as far as violence." On Dec. 16, Osceola County deputies found a salesman known as " The Kid" bleeding from multiple wounds outside America's Best Inn at 5150 W. U.S. Highway 192, according to sheriff's reports. The victim, Brian Emery, told deputies he recently had been hired to sell magazines and slept with other team members in a motel room rented by the company. Late on Dec. 15, some of his team members gave him $12 to buy beer but became enraged when he bought the wrong brand, the report stated. Justine Angermeier, a 24-year-old salesman, is charged with breaking a 32-ounce beer bottle against Emery's right eye and cheekbone. Jeremy Kirkemeir, 20, a team member with a criminal record in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri, is charged with taking part in a beating that followed, according to court records. Both were released on bail from the Osceola County Jail. On Thursday, about 30 salespeople working for Midwest Circulation LLC, a door-to-door magazine sales company, checked out America's Best Inn on Thursday afternoon, according to the motel staff. Midwest Circulation manager Bridgett Robbins, who lists Angermeier as a friend on her Myspace.com page, did not return a telephone request for comment. The group's activities prompted a public warning in Gainesville in November, when about 50 Midwest Circulation workers started selling magazines in Alachua County, according to the Gainesville Sun. "Our patrol division has been advised to be on the lookout for places where these folks may be working and that they do have criminal histories," sheriff's spokesman Art Forgey told the newspaper. Few of the magazine sales teams do background checks on their workers, according Phil Ellenbecker of http://www.travelingsalescrews.info , a national group based in Wisconsin that has tracked about 300 felony crimes and 86 deaths attributed to door-to-door vendors. "It's not uncommon to get recently released felons knocking on your door trying to sell you magazines," said Ellenbecker. "They've been linked to a number of unsolved rapes and murders." Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at 407-420-5257 or hcurtis@orlandosentinel.com. http://www.orlandosentinel.com Orlando, Florida Read This Story |
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Door-to-door salesman charged with scheming to defraud Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Prestige USA A.K.A.: Prestige Sales December 30, 2009 Door-to-door salesman charged with scheming to defraud Lehigh Acres Citizen POSTED: December 30, 2009 Earlier this month, Sheriff's investigators said Maio knocked on the door of a residence in The Reserves, a gated community. Maio advised the homeowner that he lived in the community and was selling magazine subscriptions for Prestige USA. The homeowner became suspicious and asked Maio where he lived. Maio gave the homeowner an address that the homeowner knew was fictitious. The homeowner then pointed out that the community has several "no soliciting" signs posted and that Maio should not be soliciting. Maio walked away. Without Maio's knowledge, the homeowner followed Maio as he exited the community on foot and walked across Estero Parkway and into another gated community, The Rookery. There Maio approached several more houses. One of those homeowners told detectives that at no time did Maio identify himself as a magazine salesman, but instead showed him a brochure of equipment he was working on and asked for money. When confronted, Maio had two receipts for magazine sales, each for $49 as well as a check for $198, authorities said. The check appeared to have been altered with a one written in front of the "98" and "One Hundred" squeezed in place in front of "Ninety-Eight Dollars." When the check writer was located, she told detectives she had written the check for $98 and that it had been altered. She has the check number listed in her register as $98, authorities said. Maio's story to detectives changed several times when he was questioned. The Lee County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit continues its investigation and believes there may be more victims. If you placed a magazine order with a door-to-door solicitor, please review your order and means of payment and contact the Lee County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit at (239) 258-3240. http://www.lehighacrescitizen.com Lehigh Acres, Florida Read This Story |
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BBB lists 2009 scams December 28, 2009 BBB lists 2009 scams St. Louis Business Journal Monday, December 28, 2009, 4:53pm CST All are attempts to separate consumers from their money, the group said. In alphabetical order: • Advance fee loans: Legitimate companies do not charge a fee to help borrowers refinance their loans, the BBB said. • Door-to-door sales: Beware of high-pressure sales tactics by people selling magazine subscriptions, burglar alarms, vacuum cleaners and other items to obtain payment for items that never arrive or fail to meet buyers’ expectations. • Friend/family in distress: Also known as the “grandma scam,” a caller posing as a friend or family member says he or she is in trouble and asks the victim to advance thousands of dollars by wire to post bail or pay fees. • H1N1 flu scams: Consumers were contacted in several ways to scare them into buying cures or information to prevent the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. • Lottery and fake check scams: Letters purporting to be from a well-known company or charity are used to convince consumers they have won millions of dollars in a (non-existent) lottery but must wire money to pay taxes or fees before receiving the prize. • Job hunter scams: Job seekers have been asked to pay fees to be considered for a job, or other scammers try to gain access to personal information such as bank account or Social Security numbers, under the guise of evaluating a potential employee. • Memorabilia: The election of President Barack Obama and the death of entertainer Michael Jackson provided opportunities for scammers to sell commemorative collectibles at inflated prices. • Mystery shopping: Some scams tell consumers they will be paid to shop at a store and evaluate its customer service. Others are sent authentic-looking checks that are supposed to cover the cost of doing business, and may be asked to wire money back to the scammers to evaluate a money wiring service. The checks are fake. • Office supply sales: Telemarketers call offering office supplies at a discount, saying their company is relocating and must liquidate inventory. Others imply that a company officer already authorized an order, then send inflated bills and more supplies than ordered. Refunds are difficult to obtain. • Phishing e-mails: Phishing e-mails appear to be sent from government agencies to trick victims into divulging financial information or to infect the victim’s computer with viruses and malware. • Robocalls: Automated telephone calls claim that the consumer’s automobile warranty is about to expire or that a bank is offering to lower the interest rate on their credit card. The number of violations of federal telemarketing laws prompted the FTC to restrict the use of robocalls. • Teeth-whitening offers: Consumers thought they were signing up for a free trial of teeth-whitening products, but say they received multiple bills for products and services they didn’t want. • Weight-loss pill free trial offers: Ads offering free trials of acai berry or resveratrol weight loss pills ended up costing consumers money by automatically enrolling them in a program that charged monthly fees to their credit cards. Consumers can check a business’s Reliability Report by calling (314) 645-3300 or by going online to www.bbb.org, the nonprofit organization’s Web site. http://stlouis.bizjournals.com St. Louis, Missouri Read This Story |
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Martin residents warned of door-to-door charity scams December 22, 2009 Martin residents warned of door-to-door charity scams By Lamaur Stancil TCPalm.com Posted December 22, 2009 at 11:53 a.m. Residents have reported the scams to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit. In the sales pitch, the representative might explain they are working to help get their lives back on track. They might also say they are raising money on behalf of a charity, for a school trip or even to support troops in Iraq, the Sheriff’s Office said. In one case, a 72-year-old Jensen Beach man Monday invited two of the salesmen into his home in the 1600 block of Old Dixie Highway, according to an incident report. The senior citizen and his daughter wrote checks totalling $110, which the men told them would pay for books for children, the report said. After they left, the resident checked the Web site the men said they represented and discovered it was a scam. Residents have described the salesmen as college-aged males. The Sheriff’s Office recommends researching any organization before making a charitable donation and avoid giving personal information to strangers. TCPalm.com tcpalm.com Stuart, Florida Read This Story |
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Man Selling Magazines Attacks Woman December 21, 2009 Man Selling Magazines Attacks Woman Police Say Scammers Abundant During Holiday Season Reported by Carley Gordon WSMV-TV POSTED: 12:33 pm CST December 21, 2009 UPDATED: 6:22 pm CST December 21, 2009 Officers said a man knocked on Krystie Chancey's door at her home on N. Charles Avenue, saying he worked for Austin Peay State University and then tried to sell her magazines. According to police, he then forced his way into her mobile home, attacked her and ran away. He didn't take anything inside, police said. "He rushed in my door and pushed me down on the couch and started kissing on me, reached his hand up my shirt," said Chancey. "I was really terrified. My kids was screaming, and I didn't know what to do." Police said scammers come out of the woodwork during the holiday season and that people shouldn't open their doors to strangers. "If somebody knocks on your door, if you can look outside before you open that door, and if you don't know the person, talk to them through the door and then make your decision at that point in time," said Officer Jim Knoll of the Clarksville Police Department. Chancey said she thought she took the right precautionary steps. "I said I could listen to him. I wanted him to stand on my top step, not come in," she said. Chancey said that the man had the paperwork for magazine sales. Representatives from APSU said they aren't aware of any school programs that require students to sell magazines for classes. Anyone who receives a home visit from this man is asked to contact the Clarksville Police Department. "I told all my neighbors and stuff to look out and be careful because I really thought it was just an APSU student that was trying to raise money for a class, and I opened my door to talk to him," said Chancey. "I've not been able to sleep since then." WSMV-TV wsmv.com Nashville, Teenssee Read This Story |
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Salesman Charged In Sexual Assault, Burglary December 21, 2009 Salesman Charged In Sexual Assault, Burglary LOS ANGELES (CBS) cbs2.com Dec 21, 2009 5:42 pm US/Pacific Gerald Vidal, 23, faces two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object and one count each of residential burglary, attempted sodomy by use of force, assault with a deadly weapon involving a stick, kidnapping and assault to commit a felony during the commission of a first-degree burglary. Vidal was being held on $5.6 million bail. Officers were called to the scene at 11:10 a.m. last Thursday and found the 30-year-old female victim alone and severely beaten, Los Angeles police spokesman Bruce Borihanh said. "The victim told the officers that the suspect had tried to sell her a magazine subscription but after she declined to buy, he forced his way into her home, beat her, sexually assaulted her and stole money from her," Borihanh said. "The victim was able to give officers a detailed description of the suspect," he said. "During a canvass of the neighborhood, officers found several neighbors who had seen the suspect going door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions prior to the attack." Police had been recently investigating complaints from residents in the area about door-to-door magazine salesman, Borihanh said. Officer Dennis Cunningham had discovered a door-to-door magazine sales crew operating out of a local motel. After the attack, he met with the motel staff and was able to tentatively identify the suspect, he said. "Using a photo provided by the manager for the sales crew, officers canvassed the area and located the suspect three hours later," Borihanh said. "The suspect ... was positively identified by the victim and witnesses." The suspect listed a Woodland Hills address when booked but police initially described him as being from Texas. If convicted, Vidal faces a potential life prison sentence with the possibility of parole. cbs2.com Los Angeles, California Read This Story |
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Magazine salesman arrested in sexual assault, home invasion in Valley December 19, 2009 Magazine salesman arrested in sexual assault, home invasion in Valley Gerald Vidal, who was selling subscriptions in the Winnetka area, is accused of forcing his way into a woman's home and attacking her. She was hospitalized and is in stable condition. By Seema Mehta The Los Angeles Times December 19, 2009 Gerald Vidal was arrested Thursday on suspicion of home-invasion robbery and attempted rape and is being held on $5.6-million bail, said Det. Darcie Cobos. More charges are likely. The Texas native will be arraigned Monday. Vidal was part of a subscription-selling crew from out of state. Such operations have been drawing increased police scrutiny. About 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Vidal knocked on the woman's door and she agreed to buy magazines. While she went to get money, Vidal waited on the sidewalk, said Senior Lead Officer Dennis Cunningham. But when she returned and told him she had changed her mind, he forced his way into her home, hit her repeatedly in the head and tried to rape her in the entryway to her home. The victim fought back by scratching and choking him. Vidal then dragged her from room to room, ransacking the home and demanding money. The woman, 30, continued to resist, and Vidal fled the home, Cunningham said. Cunningham, who responded to the call, had stopped two subscription sellers the prior day in West Hills, and knew there was a crew from out of state staying at a nearby motel. He went there, where a man from the crew identified Vidal and told Cunningham of the suspect's whereabouts. Police arrested him at 3:30 p.m., and the victim briefly left the hospital to identify him. The victim suffered massive head injuries and is hospitalized in stable condition. Cunningham said he had already been investigating the subscription-selling crews, which are typically from out of state and go to various neighborhoods for a short period of time to sell subscriptions on commission. "They present themselves as students trying to earn points for scholarships," he said. "In reality, they earn a commission for each sale." Criminals are increasingly joining the crews so they can case neighborhoods, burglarize homes, or pocket the cash from subscription sales, he said. Police declined to release a picture of Vidal, but urged anyone with information about the crime or similar attacks to call Cobos at (818) 756-4820 or the 24-hour tip line at (877) LAPD-24-7. seema.mehta@latimes.com seema.mehta@latimes.com The Los Angeles Times latimes.com Los Angeles, California Read This Story |
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Salesman arrested for assault, attempted rape December 18, 2009 Salesman arrested for assault, attempted rape Rob Hayes KABC-TV Friday, December 18, 2009 KABC-TV/DT abclocal.go.com Glendale, California Read This Story |
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Magazine Salesman Held in Home Invasion Robbery December 18, 2009 Magazine Salesman Held in Home Invasion Robbery KNX 10.70 News CBS Broadcasting, Inc. Posted: Friday, 18 December 2009 2:19PM Gerald Vidal, 23, was held on $5.6 million bail after the incident in the Winnetka area. Police would not disclose the address. Officers were called to the scene at 11:10 a.m. Thursday and found the 30-year-old female victim alone and severely beaten, Los Angeles police spokesman Bruce Borihanh said. "The victim told the officers that the suspect had tried to sell her a magazine subscription but after she declined to buy, he forced his way into her home, beat her, sexually assaulted her and stole money from her," Borihanh said. "The victim was able to give officers a detailed description of the suspect," he said. "During a canvass of the neighborhood, officers found several neighbors who had seen the suspect going door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions prior to the attack." Police had been recently investigating complaints from residents in the area about door-to-door magazine salesman, Borihanh said. Officer Dennis Cunningham had discovered a door-to-door magazine sales crew operating out of a local motel. After the attack, he met with the motel staff and was able to tentatively identify the suspect, he said. "Using a photo provided by the manager for the sales crew, officers canvassed the area and located the suspect three hours later," Borihanh said. "The suspect ... was positively identified by the victim and witnesses." Anyone with information about the crime or any similar attacks can call Detective Darcie Cobos at (818) 756-4820; or the 24-hour tip line, (877) LAPD-24-7. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. knx1070.com Los Angeles, California Read This Story |
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Naples-based salesman didn't stand a chance Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Editor & Chief Review Inc. A.K.A.: Fidelity Readers Service President: Belo Kellam December 17, 2009 Naples-based salesman didn't stand a chance Man selling magazines stops at the wrong house Melanie Payne • tellmel@news-press.com • December 17, 2009 http://www.news-press.com It was mine. Wiggins was going door-to-door in my Fort Myers neighborhood selling magazine subscriptions for a Naples-based company, Editor & Chief Review Inc. Wiggins had the wrong house for one simple reason: I don't buy from door-to-door salespeople. Here's just one reason why: On Saturday, the Lee County Sheriff's Office arrested a door-to-door magazine subscription salesman in Estero, charging him with solicitation, loitering and prowling and scheming to defraud. According to the arrest report, an 84-year-old woman had written a $98 check to Matthew Michael Maio to pay for two subscriptions. Police allege Maio changed the amount to $198. Maio, 26, said he works for a company in Phoenix and he had an outstanding warrant in Virginia for soliciting without a permit. Wiggins - the salesman who came to my door - didn't have a City of Fort Myers license to canvass and solicit, but Belo Kellam, president of Editor & Chief, said he doesn't need one because he's licensed in Collier County. "If you (get a license) in one county, you don't have to do it in another. But a lot of police people don't understand that," Kellam said. The people who work for Kellam are independent contractors who earn points when they sell magazines. Various point levels earn cash, and the top four point-getters can win trips, Kellam said. The ordinances many cities have regulating door-to-door sales are too cumbersome, Kellam said. The intention is to cut out the unscrupulous itinerant salesman, but it hurts legitimate businesses such as his and the onerous requirements violate interstate commerce laws, Kellam said. Mike Titmuss, Fort Myers' chief code enforcement manager, agrees with Kellam on one point. "The system is set up to dissuade the fly-by-night (salesman) who blows through town," Kellam said. But Titmuss disagrees with Kellam about who needs a permit. According to Titmuss, if people are selling magazines door-to-door in Fort Myers, they need to get a license from the city. Usually, Titmuss said, when peddlers hit the river side of McGregor Boulevard, someone calls the police. Police didn't get calls complaining about door-to-door salesmen Monday night when Wiggins and his cohorts worked my neighborhood. But some folks were annoyed with the early evening visitors. Mitch Haley, for one. "My concern is that he tried to be threatening and that might have worked on a senior citizen," Haley wrote in an e-mail to me. "Magazine scams are always around, and a person should never buy from a door-to-door salesperson." Stacey Payne, community relations manager with the Lee County Sheriff's Office, wouldn't say "never" but she certainly discourages the practice. Payne, no relation to me, said if you are interested in purchasing magazines or whatever else the person is selling, get printed information about the company and check to see whether the offer is legitimate before paying. Payne also offered these tips: - You aren't obligated to answer the door. Don't open it if you don't want to be bothered. - Take a telephone with you to the door and have someone on the line with you - or say that you do. - Never invite the salesman into your home. - To see if the peddler has a legitimate license or permit for door-to-door sales in your area, call the sheriff's office or police department. And speaking of law enforcement, as a result of Maio's arrest, the sheriff's office is asking people who ordered magazines from a door-to-door solicitor to contact the Economic Crimes Unit at 258-3240. http://www.news-press.com Fort Meyers, Florida Read This Story |
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Door to door solicitor is arrested Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Prestige USA A.K.A.: Prestige Sales December 17, 2009 Door to door solicitor is arrested Lehigh Acres Citizen POSTED: December 17, 2009 http://www.lehighacrescitizen.com On December 12, 2009, Sheriff's investigators said Maio knocked on the door of a residence in The Reserves, a gated community. Maio advised the homeowner that he lived in the community and was selling magazine subscriptions for Prestige USA. The homeowner became suspicious and asked Maio where he lived. Maio gave the homeowner an address that the homeowner knew was fictitious. The homeowner then pointed out that the community has several "no soliciting" signs posted and that Maio should not be soliciting. Maio walked away. Without Maio's knowledge, the homeowner followed Maio as he exited the community on foot and walked across Estero Parkway and into another gated community, The Rookery. There Maio approached several more houses. One of those homeowners told detectives that at no time did Maio identify himself as a magazine salesman, but instead showed him a brochure of equipment he was working on and asked for money. When confronted, Maio had two receipts for magazine sales, each for $49 as well as a check for $198. The check appeared to have been altered with a one written in front of the "98" and "One Hundred" squeezed in place in front of "Ninety-Eight Dollars." When the check writer was located, she told detectives she had written the check for $98 and that it had been altered. She has the check number listed in her register as $98, authorities said. Maio's story to detectives changed several times when he was questioned. The Lee County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit continues its investigation and believes there may be more victims. If you placed a magazine order with a door-to-door solicitor, please review your order and means of payment and contact the Lee County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit at (239) 258-3240. http://www.lehighacrescitizen.com Lehigh Acres, Florida Read This Story |
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Homeowner Stabs Suspected Thief Posing As Magazine Seller December 16, 2009 Homeowner Stabs Suspected Thief Posing As Magazine Seller Police say the woman did not want to buy magazines, but allowed the two suspects, 20-year-old Rosette Graves and Melissa Bales, into the residence so she could give them a monetary donation. Once in the home, Graves distracted the homeowner by asking to use the restroom. Posted: 12:20 AM Dec 16, 2009 Reporter: KKTV Email Address: news@kktv.com Stay with KKTV.com and tune in to 11 News This Morning for the latest. Email Address: news@kktv.com kktv.com Colorado Springs, Colorado Read This Story |
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Traveling Youth Crews December 16, 2009 Traveling Youth Crews by Robin Landry AC Associated Content December 16, 2009 I happily provided her with a glass of water in a "to go" cup with plenty of ice, but as I closed the door I felt uneasy. There was something not quite right about the entire encounter, although I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. It was only later, when recounting the episode with my mom that I learned that the young woman was most likely part of a traveling youth sales crew. Intrigued, I began researching this phenomenon and was shocked and appalled by what I found. All across the United States young people are recruited for traveling sales crews, lured by promises of big money and fabulous prizes. The sad reality, however is that they are shuttled from town to town, dropped off in unfamiliar neighborhoods with no supervision and expected to meet impossible sales goals. If they fail to meet their goals, abuse, both verbal and physical is often the result. Worse still, most rarely receive the money or prize incentives that they were promised and are often reduced to a state that resembles something that is a cross between indentured servitude and the perpetual debt of old time sharecroppers. There are also charges that these young sales agents are being driven around by crew leaders who have unsafe driving records or drug or alcohol problems. Claims of sexual harassment are common. Some low performing sales agents have even reported that they were denied food, a bed for the night, or both if they repeatedly failed to meet their quotas. AC Associated Content http://www.associatedcontent.com Read This Story |
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Lee deputies arrest man posing as door-to-door salesman Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Prestige USA A.K.A.: Prestige Sales December 16, 2009 Lee deputies arrest man posing as door-to-door salesman By Naples Daily News staff report Naples Daily News Posted December 16, 2009 at 5:47 p.m. Naples Daily News http://m.naplesnews.com Naples, Florida Read This Story |
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Deputies bust magazine solicitor December 16, 2009 Deputies bust magazine solicitor NBC2 News Posted: Dec 16, 2009 11:30 AM CST Updated: Dec 16, 2009 5:20 PM CST http://www.nbc-2.com Deputies were told about 26-year-old Matthew Maio, of Glendale, Arizona, by a resident of The Reserves on Saturday. The resident told investigators Maio knocked on their door and said he lived in the community and was selling magazine subscriptions. But they say Maio gave the homeowner an address they knew didn't exist, and they told Maio that soliciting was not permitted in the community. Maio left, but was tailed by the homeowner, who deputies say watched the suspect cross Estero Parkway and go into The Rookery development. He allegedly stopped by several more homes. One homeowner told deputies Maio didn't mention magazines, instead he showed a brochure of equipment he said he was working on and asked for money. Deputies caught up with him and found Maio had receipts for two magazine sales, for $49 each. But the check he had from the purchaser was made out for $198 – with the number ‘1' looking like it was added after the check was handed over, and the words "one hundred" squeezed in before the "ninety eight dollars." Deputies found the woman who wrote the check, who told them it was made out for $98. Investigators say Maio's story about what he was doing changed several times during questioning. He was arrested and charged with solicitation, loitering and prowling and scheme to defraud. He remains in the Lee County Jail. But deputies say the case isn't closed yet – the Economic Crimes Unit believes more people may have been victimized by Maio. Deputies ask that anyone who placed a magazine order with a door-to-door solicitor to check their order and their means of payment, then contact the Economic Crimes Unit at (239) 258-3240. http://www.nbc-2.com Fort Myers, Florida Read This Story |
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Grandmother's Attacker Found Guilty DMPG Research: Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Court Documents reveal that Jeffrey Edward Nelson Worked for: Kirby Vacuum End DMPG Research December 14, 2009 Grandmother's Attacker Found Guilty Reported by: Elex Michaelson Email: elex.michaelson@sandiego6.com San Diego 6 the CW (XETV-TV) Last Update: 12/14/2009 11:53 pm  75-year-old Sandy Vinge underwent a 26 hour nigfhtmare when she was kidnapped, beaten and thrown in the trunk of her car. EL CAJON--20-year-old Jeffrey Edward Nelson looked unemotional and sat motionless as a jury convicted him of attempted murder and torture of 76-year-old Natalie "Sandy" Herbst Vinge. View streaming video (.AVI) of this story Please be patient. This video may take a couple of minutes to load. Streaming video load times vary with your internet speed connection. In December of last year, Vinge was kidnapped from her La Mesa home, beaten, and put in the trunk of a car. She was eventually saved by a Sheriff who pulled over her captors for a traffic violation. Vinge was able to make enough noise to get the Sheriff's attention, who helped free her. More than a year later, Vinge has mostly healed from her bruises and is grateful she does not have to worry about Nelson returning to her door. "I'm so pleased because if they had let him go, I wouldn't have been able to live here, I'd have to move." She thanked all her friends and family who helped her get through this difficult time. She also was grateful the jury did not take Nelson's side. "Some people may have thought he was nicer, because he was being very nice in court, but he's not nice" she said. Prosecutor Paul Greenwood said Vinge was one of the most "remarkable" people he's ever met. "In all the cases I've handled in the last 13 years of elder abuse cases, every victim is special but she demonstrated amazing qualities. I don't know how any of us could have gone through the ordeal that she went through." The jury only took 3 hours to reach this decision. "The worst part of a trial is waiting for the jury for a verdict...their quick verdict...I think sends a message." Nelson had already plead guilty to ten other counts including burglary and carjacking, but wanted to face a jury on the attempted murder and torture charges. His attorney, Bart Sheela, would not comment to media. He said he had "nothing good to say" and added he had flu-like symptoms and wanted to get home to take some cold medicine. Nelson faces a sentencing hearing on February at the Courthouse in El Cajon. His accomplice Luis Osborne has a status hearing for his only trial scheduled for December 21st. Vinge is looking forward to moving forward. "I am happy because this young man won't be able to do this to anybody else. And that's a strong concern of mine because there are ladies out there who are my age and who aren't as strong as I am." Email: elex.michaelson@sandiego6.com San Diego 6 the CW (XETV-TV) http://www.sandiego6.com San Diego, California Read This Story |
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Salesman charged with sex assault December 14, 2009 Salesman charged with sex assault Teen victim aids cops in making arrest By RONALD ZAJAC, QMI Agency cnews.canoe.ca December 14, 2009 Police were called around 6:30 p.m. to the south end, where a young woman was reportedly being sexually assaulted by a man doing door-to-door sales for an Ottawa firm, said Sgt. Todd Bertrend. The 17-year-old victim reportedly opened her apartment door to the man, who then entered the apartment without her knowing, said Bertrend. "I believe she re-enters her apartment to get some documentation and he goes into the apartment (after her)," he said. The victim managed to send a text message to a family member who then called police. "We arrested him a short time later in the area," said Bertrend. The man was legitimately working for the Ottawa firm, said Bertrend, who did not have the identity of that company Sunday morning. Bertrend would not provide more specific details about the location of the crime. The victim did not require medical treatment, said the sergeant. Although there was "physical contact" between the assailant and the victim, the incident was not a rape, he said. "It was simply actions by him that fit the definition of a sexual assault," said Bertrend. Ahmed Ali Ahmed, 18, of Ottawa, has been charged with sexual assault in connection with the incident, said Bertrend. The accused also faces charges of break and enter, breach of an undertaking in connection with charges laid in Ottawa, and a charge of theft in connection with the theft of an item of the victim's clothing, said the sergeant. The charges were processed in satellite court Sunday morning and the accused was in custody pending a bail hearing Monday at 2 p.m. Bertrend commended the victim for her quick thinking. With an increasing number of people doing door-to-door sales, police warn city residents to remain vigilant and ready to call police if there is anything suspicious. "I think it's just another example of how people need to be careful," said Bertrend. cnews.canoe.ca Brockville, Ontario Read This Story |
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Police urge caution with door-to-door peddlers December 10, 2009 Police urge caution with door-to-door peddlers Roselee Papandrea / Times-News http://www.thetimesnews.com December 10, 2009 5:00 PM Police can’t say whether it’s a legitimate business or not. But officials are reminding people that it is against city ordinances to solicit after dark and peddlers must have a permit. Any violations of the ordinance should be reported to police. Burlington police Assistant Chief Greg Seel also warns that people shouldn’t let solicitors in their homes unless they are really interested in the product they are peddling. “Unless you are really looking for what they are selling there is no reason to let them in,” Seel said. At the end of last month, police received several complaints from residents in the west Burlington area, regarding people peddling vacuum cleaners. One man let the peddler into his home to do a demonstration. While the peddler was in his home, the man noticed his wallet was missing and contacted police. Officers responded and found that there were about seven people working out of a van going door to door in the man’s neighborhood. The man filed a larceny report, but no one was charged. Seel said the peddlers were warned about the city’s ordinance. According to city ordinances, people with peddler’s permits are only permitted to knock on doors between 9 a.m. and 30 minutes before sunset. They are not allowed to solicit any time on Sunday. If residents post “no solicitors” or “no peddling allowed” signs on their house or mailbox, even someone with a peddler’s permit isn’t allowed to knock on the door. People who violate the conditions of the permit could face a $50 fine. If the fine isn’t paid in 10 days, the person can be fined an additional $25. Violation of the city ordinance is considered a misdemeanor. Police urge residents to think twice when dealing with a stranger at their door. “Be careful who you let in your house,” Seel said. http://www.thetimesnews.com Burlington, North Carolina Read This Story |
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Police: Mich. Man Sold Magazines Without License Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: AntiLaziness December 10, 2009 Police: Mich. Man Sold Magazines Without License Man Accused Of Selling Magazines Door To Door In Stuart Neighborhood WPBF-TV POSTED: 10:17 am EST December 10, 2009 http://www.wpbf.com Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Read This Story |
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Beware salespeople going door to door December 10, 2009 Beware salespeople going door to door jdnews.com December 10, 2009 9:37 AM I am tired of telling salespeople who come to my door holding products that neither I nor my neighbors are interested. I don’t need someone to try and sell me a vacuum cleaner at an inflated price with the promise of a free gift. Nothing is for free. They show up in a van, drop people off at various houses and try to gain entry. They do not display any badge, identification or permit. The vehicles have no corporate logo. Two people showed up last week obviously ignoring the no soliciting sign displayed in my front yard. I directed their attention to it and closed my front door. Another group showed up this past Sunday night after dark asking my husband if he ever heard of a certain company — same van, different people. Again they were turned away. My sign is still up, but they still keep coming around. I did a little checking of my own. They have many complaints against them nationwide, one of which is most disturbing — no background checks on these individuals, unscrupulous sales tactics and targeting senior citizens. Now they are showing up more frequently despite repeated refusals. This is becoming more than a nuisance, it’s becoming a very troublesome situation and possibly dangerous. Now that we are in the holiday season, we all need to be more vigilant. Perhaps, your newspaper could do an in-depth article on this operation and those like it. Please alert your readers not to let them in. They are strangers! Barbara Buffell Stella http://www.jdnews.com Jacksonville, North Carolina Read This Story |
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Fort Myers Beach woman warns about possible scam Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Prestige Sales December 10, 2009 Fort Myers Beach woman warns about possible scam By Haley Hinds, WINK News Story Created: Dec 10, 2009 at 6:25 PM EST Story Updated: Dec 10, 2009 at 7:12 PM EST It starts with a knock at the door. A kid tells you they're selling magazines and books for charity. You pull out your checkbook. A month later, your magazine still isn't here, and your money is nowhere to be found. You've been scammed. A Fort Myers Beach woman living on Ohio Avenue says she may be the latest victim. She claims she bought books from a kid working for "Prestige Sales." She later checked the Internet to find complaints like these: "beware...don't fall for it... i was scammed." "It doesn't really surprise me, considering the economy and the way things are nowadays," neighbor Mark Panick said. "People are doing all kinds of crazy things to make money." Stacey Payne at the Lee County Sheriff's Office says when the economy tanked, fraud line calls spiked. She hasn't heard much on Prestige Sales but warns, buyer beware. "Get the information that they're selling," Payne said. "Get whatever paperwork there may be and tell them, before I make the purchase, before I make my decision, I want to check into this and do a little more research." The Better Business Bureau gives Prestige Sales an "F," it's lowest rating, for unresolved complaints. They're seeing an increase in scams involving door-to-door magazine sales. The State Attorney tells us they've also received complaints specifically about Prestige Sales. You can Attorney General's Fraud Hotline at 1-866-966-7226 and the Lee County Sheriff's Office Fraud Line at 239-477-1242. http://www.winknews.com Fort Myers, Florida Read This Story |
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Homicide: Daniel Patrick Willis, 40 December 8, 2009 Homicide: Daniel Patrick Willis, 40 by Rynski on Dec.08, 2009, under life, murder, obvious signs of trauma tucsoncitizen.com  Arrested: Robert Hines/TPD photo tucsoncitizen.com http://tucsoncitizen.com Tuson, Arizona Read This Story |
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Teen facing trial for attempted rape December 3, 2009 Teen facing trial for attempted rape The Daily Journal Daily Journal Staff Report December 03, 2009, 02:52 AM Christopher Joseph Cortez is charged with attempted rape, assault with the intent to commit rape, residential burglary and misdemeanor false imprisonment. He has pleaded not guilty. He returns to court Feb. 1 for jury trial. San Mateo police arrested Cortez March 19 after two women in their 50s reported being held against their will by a man who came to their residential care home workplace in the 2600 block of Holland Street and claimed to be selling magazine subscriptions. The assailant fled after the women fought back. Police found Cortez nearby in a van with other magazine salespeople. Both women later identified Cortez as the attacker. Although Cortez is a juvenile, prosecutors charged him as an adult under California’s Proposition 21. If convicted of all charges, he faces 15 years to life in prison. Cortez remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail at the Youth Services Center. Daily Journal Staff Report smdailyjournal.com San Mateo, California Read This Story |
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Door-to–Door Magazine Sales Scams December 2, 2009 Door-to–Door Magazine Sales Scams Nevada Fight Fraud FightFraud.nv.gov Last Updated: 12/02/09 08:01:38 AM For example, the student selling magazine subscriptions using the appeal that your sale will help him/her get a college scholarship or other such rewards. FTC's Cooling-Off Rule If you buy from a door-to-door salesperson in your home, and the purchase is more than $25, you're protected under the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule. The Rule gives you three days to cancel your order and receive a full refund. The seller must tell you that you have a right to cancel, and give you a summary of your cancellation rights and two copies of the cancellation form. Ask to see the required cancellation notice before you agree to buy. If the salesperson doesn't have it, don't place an order. The company is breaking the law. Sales techniques vary. The FTC says consumers should question approaches that feature: Salespeople who encourage you to buy without giving you your total costs. For example, a salesperson may offer magazines for just a few dollars a week. That could sound like a bargain - until you do the math. You could end up paying hundreds of dollars over several years for subscriptions that sell elsewhere for less. Salespeople who tell you magazines are "free" or "pre-paid" for you and that you'll be charged only a "processing fee." The fee may be more than the retail price of the magazine subscription. Salespeople who don't identify themselves as such or who may not give you the name of their company. They may lead you to believe they represent magazine publishers, or that they're soliciting for reasons other than selling subscriptions. Be wary. This may be a scam. Use the following tips to protect yourself. Get the name and phone number of the company for which the salesperson is working. If they are reluctant to provide the information or can’t provide it, that’s a red flag that they may be a scam artist. Once you get the name and phone number, check with the local business licensing agency to ensure that the salesperson is legally selling door to door in that locality. Postpone the actual purchase until the following business to allow for the above check and for checks with the Nevada Consumer Affairs Division and/or the Southern Nevada Better Business Bureau regarding prior complaints. Never allow the solicitor into your residence. Never conduct door-to-door transactions at night. Sources: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/tmarkg/magzn.shtm and the Nevada Consumer Affairs Division Last Updated: 12/02/09 08:01:38 AM FightFraud.nv.gov http://fightfraud.nv.gov Nevada Read This Story |
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Choose Jobs Carefully or You Might Get Killed! HIRE TEEN Teenagers Job Resources http://www.hireteen.com Teenagers Job Resources http://www.hireteen.com Read This Story |
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NCL's 2009 Five Worst Teen Jobs 2009 NCL's 2009 Five Worst Teen Jobs National Consumers League source: http://www.nclnet.org/labor/childlabor/jobreport2009.htm Performing Door-to-Door Sales Parents should not allow their children to take a traveling sales job. The dangers are too great. Without parental supervision, teens are at too great a risk of being victimized. Traveling sales crew workers are typically asked to go to the doors of strangers and sometimes enter their homes—a very dangerous thing for a young person to do. Frequent crime reports involving traveling sales crews suggests that the environment they present is not a safe one for teen workers. And with four in 10 worker fatalities coming from vehicle accidents, NCL urges teens not to accept any job that involves driving long distances or for long periods of time. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warned consumers in May 2009 that deceptive sales practices are common in door-to-door sales—the group had received 1,100 complaints in the prior year. “Experience tells us that customers aren’t the only victims of [these scams],” said Michael Coil, President of BBB of Northern Indiana, “the young salespeople are also potentially being taken advantage of by their employers and forced to work long hours, endure substandard living conditions and have their wages withheld from them.” In May 2008, police in Spokane, Washington investigated a 16-year-old’s claim that she was held as a captive worker by a door-to-door sales company. She escaped after the sales crew leaders beat up her boyfriend because he wasn’t selling enough magazines. Unscrupulous traveling sales companies charge young workers for expenses like rent and food that requires them to turn over all the money they ostensibly make from selling magazines or goods. When they try to quit or leave the crew, they are told they can’t. Disreputable companies have been known to seize young workers’ money, phone cards, and IDs and restrict their ability to call their parents. Drug use and underage drinking are not uncommon. A New York Times report in 2007 found that crew members often make little money after expenses are deducted. Among the possible dangers: Murder: * In November 2007, Tracie Anaya Jones, 19, who was a member of a traveling sales crew, was found dead of stab wounds. Originally from Oregon, Jones was last seen working in Little Rock Arkansas before her body was found 150 miles away in Memphis, Tennessee. Her killing remains unsolved and is featured on America’s Most Wanted Web site. * In Rapid City, South Dakota in April 2004, a 41-year-old man was charged with murdering a 21-year-old woman who came to his home to sell magazines. Robbery: Working in unknown neighborhoods poses risks, especially if you are carrying money from sales or goods to sell. * Although not part of a traveling sales crew, a 12-year-old selling candy for a school fundraiser in a Jacksonville, Florida neighborhood in March 2009 was robbed by three individuals who drove up to her in a car. * In April 2003, a 16-year-old Texas youth selling candy was robbed and shot in the stomach by two teens. Assaults: * In May 2009 in Bethesda, Maryland, a 19-year-old woman selling magazines was attacked and nearly raped by someone she encountered while selling magazines door-to-door. * In Lawton, Oklahoma, a 19-year-old Nevada woman was selling magazines door-to-door in February 2009 when her potential customer invited her in. The man gave her something to drink and she awoke several hours later and realized she had been raped. * A 19-year-old Ohio magazine sales person was assaulted by three men who expressed an interest in buying magazines. The victim was waiting for a pickup by co-workers when she was approached, abducted, and sexually assaulted (April 2003). Reckless driving: traveling sales crews face greater risk of vehicle accidents and in many cases, crew leaders are driving without licenses or driving on suspended licenses. Vehicles are not always maintained properly and the use of 15-passenger vans in some cases presents safety concerns. * In November 2005, two teenagers were killed and seven were injured when the van they were riding in flipped near Phoenix, Arizona. The vehicle crossed a median strip, and ended up in the opposite lanes of a freeway. All nine occupants, who worked for a magazine subscription company, were thrown from the vehicle. * A month earlier, 20-year-old, James Crawford, was ejected and killed from a van crash in Georgia. Eighteen young adults were crammed into the 15-passenger van. The driver fell asleep and was allegedly driving under the influence of marijuana. The occupants were heading north from Florida to sell magazine subscriptions. * Two young salespersons, age 18 and 19, were ejected from a vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene after a vehicle accident in which 15 salespersons were crammed into a 10-year-old SUV that rolled over on a highway in New Mexico (September 2002). * In 1999, seven individuals travelling as a sales crew were killed in an accident in Janesville, Wisconsin. Five other passengers were injured, including one girl who was paralyzed. The driver of the van, who was trying to elude a police chase, did not have a valid drivers license and attempted to switch places with another driver when the accident occurred. The fatality victims included Malinda Turvey, 18, who has inspired ground-breaking legislation—Malinda’s Act—which passed in Wisconsin in April 2009 to regulate traveling sales crews. Desertion: young salesmen have been stranded if they try to quit or do not sell enough. Exposure: crews often work in bad weather, walking miles in blazing heat or in cold weather. Arrest: crews often operate without proper licenses and permits and young sales people are subject to arrest. Sexual exploitation: young workers, far from home, are at special risk of exploitation from older crew leaders and crew members. At any given time, there are as many as 50,000 youth under the age of 18 involved in youth peddling crews. The National Consumers League has material on its Web site that young workers should look at before they consider taking a traveling sales job here. source: http://www.nclnet.org/labor/childlabor/jobreport2009.htm nclnet.org source: http://www.nclnet.org/labor/childlabor/jobreport2009.htm Washington, DC Read This Story |
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Someone's at the door November 30, 2009 Someone's at the door Wallyhood http://www.wallyhood.org Mon, November 30, 2009 at 11:05 am There are a variety of people canvassing Wallingford saying they’re selling magazine subscriptions or the like. One is a man, black, who says he is an ex-gang member from Atlanta. There are a pair of women as well, saying they are in an entrepreneurial program. Both have been intimidating people who say no, trying to bully them into giving money. They are not really selling magazines. They are taking people’s money and keeping it. They may also be assessing your home’s burglary-worthiness. It’s called stealing. Please tell them no. If they come to your door, you don’t need to answer it. If you answer it, you don’t need to give an excuse (e.g., “I can’t afford it”, “I don’t want a magazine”, “I don’t trust you”). It’s OK to simply say no and close the door. That’s not rude. What’s rude is trying to steal from someone on their own doorstep. You can call 911 to report them to the police, if you like, although they are unlikely to respond. 911 isn’t just reserved for “someone is mugging me now” type emergencies, you can call 911 to report any criminal event. If you call the “non-emergency” number, they will just tell you to call 911 or to hang up and go about your business. On a perhaps related note, Jay writes: i wanted to let you know that even though the crime stats for wallingford seem to be level, i’m another point of anecdotal data that says otherwise. my home near the wallingford / fremont border was broken into on thanksgiving day. i’m just taking inventory now. they didn’t seem to get much and nothing that can’t be replaced, but i can’t really shake the feeling of being incredibly bummed at the situation. it seems that this kind of activity is happening more and more. everyone out there, remember to know your neighbors. they’re an incredibly valuable resource and are most likely really awesome people. Be vigilant. They stole Jay’s shift-key! http://www.wallyhood.org Wallingford, Seattle Read This Story |
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Warrant Arrest November 30, 2009 Police Report November 29 - December 5, 2009 The Santa Clara Weekly Santa Clara's Community Newspaper and Discussions Hub Warrant Arrest Location: 600 Block of Clara Vista Officer Garces made contact with an individual who had been going door to door selling cleaning products. The suspect initially gave a false name, but was found to have a parole violation from Texas. Texas was willing to extradite so the man was arrested. Case Number 09-13035 Santa Clara's Community Newspaper and Discussions Hub http://scw.tearn.com Santa Clara, California Read This Story |
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New Smyrna police issue caution about solicitors Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Face to Face Technology Magazine Clearinghouse: Great Lake Circulations November 26, 2009 New Smyrna police issue caution about solicitors By MARK I. JOHNSON Staff Writer The News-Journal November 26, 2009 Spokesman Sgt. Mike Brouillette is urging residents to be wary of individuals' unsolicited attempts to sell items throughout local neighborhoods. He said sales personnel are required to get a solicitor's permit to conduct such activity in the city. "The only place they can get it is from the Police Department," he said, encouraging residents to ask to see it. "If (the sales person) does not have one, ask them to hold on and call police." Wednesday's warning came on the heels of complaints from city residents about young people going door to door selling magazines in neighborhoods off the North Causeway. It was suspected the self-described college students trying to earn money to study abroad were actually trying to scam residents. In addition, police arrested a 19-year-old Ohio man for giving officers a false name. The report said Phillip Deandray Marks was in the Lymestone Ranch apartment complex attempting to sell products for Colorado-based Face to Face Technology to residents Sunday night. When confronted he gave police a bogus name and identification, officers said, and was taken into custody. Marks was taken to the Volusia Branch Jail. Staff Writer The News-Journal Daytona Beach, Florida Read This Story |
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UPDATED: McRae's hearing adjourned November 24, 2009 UPDATED: McRae's hearing adjourned Times Herald • November 24, 2009 thetimesherald.com The Times Herald does not identify the victims of sexual assault. thetimesherald.com Port Huron, Michigan Read This Story |
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Magazine Sellers Turn Out To Be Scammers November 24, 2009 Magazine Sellers Turn Out To Be Scammers Sellers Claimed To Be Raising Money To Study Abroad WESH 2 News POSTED: 5:02 pm EST November 24, 2009 UPDATED: 6:01 pm EST November 24, 2009 Gerard McLoughlin is one of a dozen or more residents in the Venecia subdivision approached at home by two young people claiming to be local college students selling magazines. "They said I was a very nice guy, and I don't know if that was an enticement, and they said that this summer they were going on a trip to Spain," McLoughlin said. Police said this particular scam is making its rounds. The solicitors said they lived down the street and dropped neighbors' names who gave, then offered to sell magazines or take a charitable donation. "They said, 'Well, you could buy these magazines for such-and-such a deal or you could donate to a shelter, and they had shelters that I never heard the names of," McLoughlin said. On closer inspection of the receipts, residents found the names of the companies through the Internet. The companies were under fire as rip-offs in other states. One of the people who donated became suspicious later in the evening when he saw these alleged students jump into a dark blue van that was waiting in the street and quickly take off. The sellers said they lived in the neighborhood. "There's people that are there to pick on, prey on people. Victims of opportunity and that sort of thing," McLoughlin said. Police said legitimate solicitors must be permitted by the city and carry a card proving so. Worried they've lost more than a donation, some residents have cancelled checks and even closed their accounts. wesh.com Winter Park, Florida Read This Story |
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City ordinances aim to curb door-to-door sales November 23, 2009 City ordinances aim to curb door-to-door sales By Judy Keen, USA TODAY 11/23/09 Most exempt charities, religious and political groups and youngsters from the restrictions. Changes are being prompted by increasing complaints from residents about aggressive people on their doorsteps. Mayor Tom Strickland of Machesney Park, Ill., says the economy "has a lot to do with" an influx of sales crews from out of state. The Board of Trustees votes next month on higher license fees and $500-$1,000 fines for ignoring "no soliciting" signs or requests to leave. Strickland prefers a total ban on door-to-door sales, but worries that would invite lawsuits. He's probably right, says Dan Kobil, a constitutional law professor at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He has sued communities with anti-soliciting rules for Ohio Citizen Action, a consumer advocacy group that canvasses door-to-door. The Supreme Court has ruled that "going door-to-door to communicate a message" is a First Amendment right, Kobil says, and ordinances that "try to license speech are inherently suspect under our Constitution." Recent action elsewhere: •Colebrookdale Township, Pa. Rules that took effect last month require solicitors to be licensed by police, who can conduct background checks; township officials had issued licenses. The change came after an alarm system sales crew from Utah was "kind of forcing their way into people's homes," Township Manager Cindy Conrad says. •Sumter, S.C. Starting this month, the city requires photos on peddlers' badges and upped the badge fee from $1 to $50 to cover the cost of national background checks, City Manager Deron McCormick says. Previously, state checks were done. •North Richland Hills, Texas. An ordinance passed in October requires solicitors to wear photo badges and sets penalties of $500 for each offense if they don't leave when asked, city spokeswoman Mary Peters says. •Columbus, Ind. Mayor Fred Armstrong says the city "put a little more teeth" into its ordinance last month after complaints about salespersons knocking on doors after dark and "really pressuring" residents. Starting Jan. 1, solicitors must get licenses from police and can't approach homes after 6 p.m. or 9 p.m., depending on the season. •Canal Winchester, Ohio. The village has collected about 55 names on its "do not knock" list, which was approved last month and is modeled on "do not call" phone lists, finance director Nanisa Osborn says. Residents can fill out forms that bar peddlers, solicitors or both from their property and can list exceptions. Those who go door-to-door pick up the list when they apply for permits and must check for updates monthly. Mayor Strickland wishes Congress would help. "Our national laws need to do something about this," he says. usatoday.com Read This Story |
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Numerous scam claims emerge in Southeast Missouri November 21, 2009 Numerous scam claims emerge in Southeast Missouri by Zakk Gammon KFVS12 Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:39 PM CST Updated: Nov 22, 2009 7:51 AM CST KFVS12 kfvs12.com Cape Girardeau, Missouri Read This Story |
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Pastor becomes victim of alleged magazine scam Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation, Inc. November 20, 2009 Pastor becomes victim of alleged magazine scam by Zakk Gammon KFVS12 Posted: Nov 20, 2009 7:16 PM CST Updated: Nov 20, 2009 8:01 PM CST Bertrand First Baptist Church pastor Ron Aldridge became suspicious after a woman tried to sell him more than 100 dollars in magazine subscriptions. She told the man and his wife the magazines would go to troops overseas. However, according to the pastor, the police and numerous Internet complaints, that simply isn't true. "She came knocking on our door," says Aldridge. "We're not interested in magazines. I've turned down a lot of good magazines I'd like to read; I just don't have time to read them." But Aldridge says he'll give a helping hand any chance he gets. "We said 'let's take a chance and we'll send some to the troops... supposedly a three-year subscription," Aldridge said. The pastor wrote the woman a check for the subscription but he says he and his wife were still uneasy. "I Googled the company and sure enough they've got page after page after page of where they've done this up and down the East Coast," Aldridge said. The company is Atlantic Circulation, Inc., based in Pennsylvania. It has an official website listing contact information like phone and fax numbers and an email address. However, Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore says don't let that fool you. "They'd ask for cash. The cash would pay for motels [and] food," says Sheriff Moore. "Then they'd take the checks or credit cards and get the money out of them." Aldridge called his bank and the police. He canceled the check but the police never found the woman who sold him the subscription. They did arrest eight other people who they believe represent Atlantic Circulation. They all face charges of Theft by Deception. All but two of them bonded out. 20-year-old Samantha Graham of North Carolina remains in jail along with 20-year-old Adam Baker of Michigan, who police believe is the ring leader. However, investigators say there are still more people out there. "If they're legit that's fine," says Sheriff Moore. "But if they're not, we're gonna go after them." Heartland News contacted the company. A representative says they contract door-to-door sales people to sell the magazines. They also say receipts give to people when they buy the magazines clearly states delivery could take up to 120 days. It apparently lists a customer service phone number for questions and complaints. KFVS12 kfvs12.com Cape Girardeau, Missouri Read This Story |
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Five booked in St. Charles Parish magazine scam November 19, 2009 Five booked in St. Charles Parish magazine scam By Matt Scallan, The Times-Picayune November 19, 2009, 11:44AM "These individuals were falsely representing that they were selling for a local school group or charity," Sheriff Greg Champagne said in a news release. None of the five arrestees are from the area. The Sheriff's Office was alerted last week when someone who made a donation to one of the solicitors became suspicious and called the Sheriff's Office, which determined that the salesperson's claim of being a Destrehan High student was false. In an e-mail to residents, Champagne credited numerous tips from the public that led to the arrests. Parish law requires that commercial vendors obtain a permit and ID card issued by the Sheriff's Office. Violation of the law is a misdemeanor. Representatives of non-profit organizations don't need the permit, but should be able to provide appropriate identification, according to a Sheriff's Office news release. Arrested were Dustin A. Bradley, 19, of Waco, Texas, Michael Patterson, 19, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., Kimberly Holden, 20, Wimauma, Fla.; Takeema Johnson, 20, of New York, N.Y.; Nesia T. Gordon, 19, of New York, N.Y., and Jamarr Wilson, 24, of Shreveport. Three of the arrestees were released on $500 bond. Bradley and Patterson remained in custody Thursday on other charges. Bradley also was booked with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Patterson was held on a fugitive warrant from South Carolina. nola.com New Orleans, Louisiana Read This Story |
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Melrose Police seek stricter laws for solicitors November 19, 2009 Melrose Police seek stricter laws for solicitors By Daniel DeMaina / ddemaina@cnc.com Melrose Free Press Wicked Local Melrose Thu Nov 19, 2009, 03:58 PM EST The proposed law change currently before the Melrose Board of Aldermen would require solicitors to provide contact phone numbers, their date of birth, and their driver’s license number and state of issue, among other requirements. The Police Department would photograph and fingerprint each solicitor, and require a $25 registration fee. Further, Lyle said the police department would then conduct a background check on each solicitor to determine whether the person has any outstanding warrants or is a “person of interest” in any crimes. Lyle explained that the new restrictions would prohibit door-to-door solicitors who may have criminal records from working in Melrose, where they might solicit as a cover for scoping out potential victims and homes to break into. The lack of background checks, Lyle said, is “like giving the new maintenance job at the local bank to the bank robber.” Melrose City Solicitor Rob Van Campen said the background checks would not be Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) checks “per se,” but that the police chief can “conduct to the legal extent possible a background check.” Lyle said approved solicitors would receive a certificate that would also function as a photo ID, using the photo taken at the police department. Solicitors would then be required to present that certificate to police officers upon request, and residents would be instructed to check and see if the solicitor at their front door had properly registered with the police department. Those caught soliciting door-to-door without first registering with the Melrose Police Department would be subject to a $100 fine for each offense. Maribeth Harrington, aldermanic clerk of committees, told the Free Press that last Thursday the aldermen’s Protection and License Committee recommended the proposed law change for passage. Before doing so, however, they amended it, increasing the registration fee to $50 and inserting a clause that the fee can be waived for non-profit organizations at the police chief’s discretion, such as for Girl Scouts Troops selling cookies door-to-door. As a legal check and balance, however, Ward 3 Alderman Frank Wright asked that Van Campen give his opinion as city solicitor on the amendment. The recommended proposal is scheduled to go before the aldermen’s Legal and Legislative Committee on Monday, Nov. 23, pending Van Campen’s legal opinion. Melrose Free Press Wicked Local Melrose wickedlocal.com Beverly, Massachusetts Read This Story |
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Residents told to beware of door-to-door sellers Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Midwest Circulations LLC http://midwestcirculationllc.com/policy.html And: Atlantic Circulation Trade Group: National Field Selling Association http://www.nfsa.com November 17, 2009 Residents told to beware of door-to-door sellers By Karen Voyles Staff writer The Gainsville Sun Published: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 5:20 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 5:20 p.m. Meanwhile, Gainesville police are urging Crime Watch groups and apartment managers to be on the look out for what appears to be another group selling magazine subscriptions that appears to be committing fraud. Deputies discovered the 50 or so door-to-door salespeople were working in the area after they were dispatched to the Days Inn on Newberry Road about a disturbance. Sheriff's spokesman Art Forgey said the disturbance involved a 17-year-old girl who told deputies she had been part of a traveling magazine business and was fired Monday for under-performance. The girl said she had nowhere to go and was not being allowed to collect her belonging from the room where she had been staying. Deputies helped the girl retrieve her property, arranged for a safe place for her to stay overnight and contacted her legal guardian to arrange for her to go back home, Forgey said. Deputies also determined the girl was one of about 50 people staying at the hotel who worked for Midwest Circulations LLC of Cameron, Mo. The people have reportedly been getting dropped off in subdivisions to try to sell subscriptions. "We ran background checks on several of the people there and we found some extensive criminal histories," Forgey said. "Our patrol division has been advised to be on the lookout for places where these folks may be working and that they do have criminal histories." Gainesville police said the group of alleged door-to-door sellers for which they have gotten complaints are apparently not really selling subscriptions. In an e-mail to Crime Watch group leaders and apartment managers, Gainesville Police Cpl. Audrey Mazzuca wrote that there is a "group of subjects selling magazine subscriptions in Gainesville. They claim to be working for Atlantic Circulations. I contacted Atlantic Circulations’ headquarters and was told that they are not currently selling magazines in our state. These subjects are committing fraud. If you are solicited by these subjects, please report them by calling 955-1818." Staff writer The Gainsville Sun gainesville.com Gainsville, Florida Read This Story |
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Magazine Subscription Scam Thwarted Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation Trade Group: National Field Selling Association http://www.nfsa.com November 13, 2009 Magazine Subscription Scam Thwarted Posted on November 13, 2009 by Mike Schrant 94.1 KDNS-FM Dierking Communications, Inc 26-year old Jamie Mitchell from Florida was picked up a short time later and taken to the Mitchell County Law Enforcement Center where she was informed that she had broken the law under a new nuisance ordinance that made selling door-to-door a misdemeanor offence. Officer Fraley said his wife Rebecca quickly picked up on the potential danger and did what everyone else should do in a similar circumstance, call the police. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. According to Beloit Police Chief Ryan Stocker, Mitchell said she was selling magazine subscriptions for a York, Pennsylvania based company called Atlantic Circulation Incorporated. She was then instructed to contact what she called he “group” to come pick her up. About 9:00-PM the “group” which consisted of three young men, showed up to retrieve Mitchell. The members of the “group” – 26 year old Dustin Davidson from Missouri, 34 year old Floyd Arterburn from Oregon and 24 year old Eugene Goebel from New York. A quick background check of the three soon turned up an outstanding warrant on Goebel. He is currently wanted in Nebraska on a charge of First Degree Sexual Assault. Goebel was taken into custody and the other three quickly left Mitchell County. Chief Stocker said his concern was the fact only one call was made to the Beloit PD. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. As for Goebel, he made a court appearance this afternoon. He came to court dressed in the traditional orange county jail jumpsuit and chains for the Waiver of Extradition Hearing. Goebel eventually signed the waiver which eliminates any legal hurdles to a quick transfer of custody to the State of Nebraska. Goebel did not however, go quickly or quietly. Before he signed the waiver, he threatened to sue both the Mitchell County Jail and the State of Nebraska for False Imprisonment. 94.1 KDNS-FM Dierking Communications, Inc dierkingcommunications.com Downs, Kansas Read This Story |
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Salesman's grab leads to charges November 13, 2009 Salesman's grab leads to charges By Russ Mitchell, Daily Reporter Staff Spencer Daily Reporter Friday, November 13, 2009 Spencer Daily Reporter spencerdailyreporter.com Spencer, Iowa Read This Story |
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Police to seek more remains of missing girl Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation Co. November 10, 2009 Police to seek more remains of missing girl By Paul Post Special to The Record The Record Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Saratoga County sheriff’s deputies and State Police will revisit the remote Fox Hill Road site where a hunter found skull fragments belonging to Jennifer Hammond, who was 18 when she went missing in late August 2003. Sheriff James Bowen said Monday that no new leads or specific information prompted today’s search. Police and state forest rangers spent three days looking for additional remains right after Hammond’s skull was found, but came up empty-handed and called off such efforts after scouring the immediate area. "We’re going back up there," Bowen said. "Before the weather changes. We thought it would be a good idea to take another look. We have the skull and jaw, but that’s it, no other remains. There’s already a lot of leaves. We want to make one more clean sweep while we can before it snows." Bowen declined comment when asked if existing remains indicate violence or foul play in Hammond’s death. Police are treating the case as a homicide, but have no suspects. "We don’t have a lot to go on," Bowen said. Hammond was last seen at Creek & Pines Trailer Park, near the corner of Geyser and Middle Line roads in Milton, where she was selling magazines door-to-door. Her case bears striking similarity to that of then-19-year-old Christina N. White, who was last seen alive in the Geyser Road-Rowland Street area of Milton on July 1, 2005. The following March, her badly decomposed body was found at Daketown State Forest in Greenfield, several miles from where Hammond’s remains were discovered. A subsequent examination of White’s skeleton revealed she was stabbed to death. Bowen said nothing definitively links the two cases. "We’ve got nothing that leads together," he said. "We look at everything." Hammond’s skull and jaw frag¬ments, including several teeth, were found on Monday, Oct. 26. The site is fairly deep into the woods, off an unpaved section of Fox Hill Road, about three miles past Lake Desolation, near the Edinburg town line. Three days later, a forensics dentist was able to positively iden¬tify Hammond using her dental records. The state police crime lab in Albany is conducting an additional DNA test with results expected in another few weeks. "It confirms the identification and gives us a DNA record to have on file," State Police Major William Sprague said. Special to The Record The Record troyrecord.com Troy, New York Read This Story |
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Search to resume Tuesday for skeletal remains Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation Co. November 9, 2009 Search to resume Tuesday for skeletal remains By DREW KERR dkerr@poststar.com | Posted: Monday, November 9, 2009 12:00 pm The Post Star Saratoga County Sheriff James Bowen said a group of 15 to 20 officers will be involved in the search, which will focus on the same wooded area off of Fox Hill Road where a hunter found a skull on Oct. 26. No specific information led investigators to return to the site, but investigators are hoping that more remains can be found in the area, Bowen said. So far, only skull and jaw fragments have been located. This is the first time police have returned to the site since their initial search of the area ended on Oct. 28. How long the search will last will be dictated by what police discover after resuming their efforts, Bowen said. "It will all depend on what they find," Bowen said. "It could be a difficult search. All these leaves and stuff certainly don't help." On Oct. 29, police announced that dental records led them to believe the victim is Jennifer M. Hammond, a Littleton, Colo., an 18-year-old woman who was in the area selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door when she went missing in August 2003. A DNA test that would confirm those suspicions has not yet been completed. Hammond was last seen at the Creek & Pines Trailer Park in Ballston Spa, police said. A missing persons report was not filed until three months after her disappearance. Bowen said he would not discuss whether police had developed any additional information that could assist in their investigation. Posted in Local, Saratoga on Monday, November 9, 2009 12:00 pm Updated: 9:20 pm. | Tags: Jennifer M. Hammond, Skeletal Remains The Post Star poststar.com Glens Falls, New York Read This Story |
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USC warns of fundraising scams November 5, 2009 USC warns of fundraising scams The State Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009 http://www.thestate.com http://www.thestate.com Columbia, South Carolina Read This Story |
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Teen’s Death Raises Concern About One of the “Worst Jobs” for Teens November 4, 2009 Teen’s Death Raises Concern About One of the “Worst Jobs” for Teens Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Posted by savvyconsumer in Child Labor Coalition, child labor, kids, legislative issues, worker's rights issues. Tags: Five Worst Jobs for Teens, Jennifer Hammond, traveling sales crews trackback by Reid Maki, Coordinator of the Child Labor Coalition NCL’s Savvy Consumer Blog Jennifer Hammond was one of those teenagers who knocks on your door and tries to sell you magazines. In August 2003, co-workers at Atlantic Circulation, Inc. dropped Hammond, a native of Littleton, Colorado, off in a mobile home park in Milton, New York. She failed to show up at the designated pickup spot two hours later. Six years later, a hunter found some bone fragments and teeth in a forest in Saratoga County, New York and forensic specialists identified the remains as Hammond’s. Local police are investigating the case as a homicide. Each year, traveling sales has consistently appeared as one of NCL’s list of “Five Worst Jobs for Teens.” Going door-to-door is a risky proposition these days and when you add doing it in an unfamiliar town without parental supervision, the dangers add up quickly. After reviewing this industry and scores of problems we’ve heard about over the years, NCL came to the conclusion last spring that under no circumstances should a minor be allowed to travel as part of a sales crew. Members of sales crews are vulnerable to assault and exploitation from customers, fellow crew members, and their superiors. Over the years, we’ve heard and read many stories of crew members who were beaten because they wanted to leave their crews or did not sell enough magazines. On October 15th, the New York Times published a story about two young magazine salesman who were beaten with baseball bats and golf clubs in Lakewood, Washington simply because they wanted to quit. The police arrested six men in the attack. Unscrupulous traveling sales companies charge young workers for expenses like rent and food that in some cases requires them to turn over all the money they earn from selling magazines or goods. When they try to quit or leave the crew, they are told they can’t. Earlier this summer, NCL received a phone call from a young man who quit his crew and found himself stranded 1,000 miles from home. He was broke and trying to hitch-hike home. Disreputable companies have been known to seize young workers’ money, phone cards, and IDs and restrict their ability to call their parents. Drug use and underage drinking are not uncommon. Another New York Times report in 2007 found that crew members often make little money after expenses are deducted. Teen sales crews are often crammed into poorly maintained, unsafe vans and driven by young distracted drivers. In November 2005, two teenagers were killed and seven were injured when the van they were riding in flipped near Phoenix, Arizona. A month earlier, 20-year-old, James Crawford, was ejected and killed from a van crash in Georgia. Eighteen young adults were crammed into the 15-passenger van when the driver fell asleep. Unfortunately, Jennifer Hammond’s suspected murder is not the first associated with work in traveling sales crews: In November 2007, Tracie Anaya Jones, 19, a member of a traveling sales crew, was found dead of stab wounds in Memphis, Tennessee. Her killing remains unsolved and is featured on “America’s Most Wanted” Web site. In Rapid City, South Dakota in April 2004, a 41-year-old man was charged with murdering a 21-year-old woman who came to his home to sell magazines. Clearly, these are extreme examples of what can go wrong, but there is ample evidence that there is much to be concerned about when one contemplates traveling sales work. Last month’s Times article on the beating of the two young salesmen, noted that Parent Watch, an industry watchdog group, is receiving about 10 emergency calls a day from crew members with problems. In Wisconsin, a new law designed to protect young sales people will take effect next April. We’ll take a closer look at it in the days ahead….Stay tuned. by Reid Maki, Coordinator of the Child Labor Coalition NCL’s Savvy Consumer Blog http://savvyconsumer.wordpress.com Read This Story |
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Magazine salesman had warrants November 4, 2009 CRIME WEB EXCLUSIVE: Magazine salesman had warrants appen newspapers, Inc. northfulton.com November 04, 2009 According to the incident report, homeowners in the neighborhood called police to complain about two men selling magazines door-to-door. Officers met with both of them and asked for identification. After checking them out through criminal databases, investigators were able to determine one of them, John Brunswick, had a warrant out for his arrest for burglary from Elyria, Ohio. He was taken into custody. northfulton.com Alpharetta, Georgia Read This Story |
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Editorial: Scammers find easy targets on campus, in community November 4, 2009 Editorial: Scammers find easy targets on campus, in community By The Orion http://www.theorion.com Published: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Scam artists have become a major problem in Chico — both on campus and in the community. University Police Chief Eric Reichel recently sent out a campus-wide notice warning us that aggressive solicitors, who pretend to sell magazines, are victimizing students. It’s easy to get caught in a scammer’s web of lies, especially for unsuspecting students. Don’t fall for it. There are some simple ways to realize you’re being scammed and to take action and to be prepared. •Is there anything suspicious about the person who approached you? If they are selling magazines, are their samples worn down or torn at the edges? If you feel any sort of suspicion, stick to your intuition and simply close the door or walk away. They’ll probably try to get you to stay, but be assertive, tell them “No” loudly and leave. They’ll get the message. •Before you walk away, try to get as much information about the person as you can. Remember the little things, like a branded hat or shirt and ask to see identification. An accurate description can help the police catch scam artists. Call the police immediately after they’ve left. Tell police which way the scammers went and what they look like. •Don’t feel pressured into buying something, even if they claim it’s going to a charity. You may think you’re helping the underprivileged young dentists of Somalia but, in reality, you could be paying for some guy’s next keg. If you really want to donate to charity, find a reputable organization, like St. Jude Children’s Research hospital or the Salvation Army and donate to them. At least then you know your money is going toward a good cause. These con artists work by daylight — it adds credence to their scams — so they’re not going to attack you if you don’t donate. Say no and walk away. By keeping our wits about us, we can outsmart them. The simple rule is don’t buy magazines from the suspicious guy at your door. Don’t give the guy who “just needs some gas” all the money in your pocket. Point him to the police station. And never give out personal information. Managing Editor Jennifer Siino News Editor Don Bunce Opinion Editor Robin Epley Sports Editor Phil Petermann Entertainment Editor Earl Parsons Features Editor Therese Marucci Photo Editor Jeb Draper Video Editor Jackson Wong Online Editor Lauren Mayo Chief Copy Editor Elizabeth Ghiorso http://www.theorion.com Chico, California Read This Story |
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'Polite' Burglar Sought In 23 Thefts November 2, 2009 'Polite' Burglar Sought In 23 Thefts Homes In North Vacaville Hit In October, Police Say KCRA 3 Television POSTED: 4:02 pm PST November 2, 2009 UPDATED: 6:10 am PST November 3, 2009 There have been 23 homes burglarized in a 10-day period, most of which are in the Browns Valley neighborhood. The break-ins were reported Oct. 17-27. Police believe the robberies involve either one person or a small group of burglars. A woman named Monica said she went out to run errands and came home to find that someone had visited her bedroom. "And that's immediately when I realized the room had been ransacked. All the drawers were open," the woman said. She said the crooks stole all her jewelry, including her wedding ring, along with expensive perfume and handbags. Monica said she called loved ones, who told her to get out of the home. "It didn't even dawn on me to get out of the house," the woman said. In each case, police say, a young, clean-cut man comes to the door and says he's looking for a friend -- or he's selling magazines. "What they're really doing is trying to see if there's anyone home or not. If they don't find anyone home, then they're basically going around to the side of the residence, going through a side gate, going to the rear of the residence and forcing entry," Jeff King from the Vacaville Police Department said. Police said the homes that were hit are in middle- to-upper-class neighborhoods and that they all had unlocked gates and no barking dogs. So far, nobody has been hurt and no weapons have been reported in the incidents. Monica said she's since had an alarm installed and finds herself more suspicious of people nearby. "Everybody that I see walking around looks a little suspect, because you just don't know. They haven't caught anybody, so you just don't know," she said. kcra.com Sacramento, California Read This Story |
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National Consumers League Warns About Work on Traveling Sales Crews After Remains of Colorado Teen Are Recovered Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation Co. November 2, 2009 National Consumers League Warns About Work on Traveling Sales Crews After Remains of Colorado Teen Are Recovered nclnet.org Release Date: November 2, 2009 Contact: 202-835-3323, media@nclnet.org “Jennifer Hammond’s death should serve as a tragic warning. We urge parents not to allow their children to join traveling sales crews,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “The dangers are too great. Without parental supervision, teens are at too great a risk of being victimized. Traveling sales crew workers are typically asked to go to the doors of strangers and sometimes enter their homes—a very dangerous thing for a young person to do.” In August 2003, co-workers at Atlantic Circulation, Inc. dropped Hammond, an 18-year-old native of Littleton, Colorado, off in a mobile home park in Milton, New York. She failed to show up at the designated pickup spot two hours later. A hunter found her remains in a forest in Saratoga County, New York last week. Local police are investigating the case as a homicide—another young woman, also missing from Milton, New York, was found dead just miles from the location of Hammond’s remains in 2005. Each year, traveling sales has consistently appeared as one of NCL’s list of “Five Worst Jobs for Teens.” “Frequent crime reports involving traveling sales crews suggests that the environment they present is not a safe one for teen workers,” said Greenberg. “Working in unknown neighborhoods poses risks, especially if you are carrying money from sales or goods to sell. Workers are vulnerable to assault and exploitation from customers, crew members, and their superiors.” Unscrupulous traveling sales companies charge young workers for expenses like rent and food that in some cases requires them to turn over all the money they earn from selling magazines or goods. When they try to quit or leave the crew, they are told they can’t. Disreputable companies have been known to seize young workers’ money, phone cards, and IDs and restrict their ability to call their parents. Drug use and underage drinking are not uncommon. A New York Times report in 2007 found that crew members often make little money after expenses are deducted. “The crews also expose young workers to grave danger from vehicle accidents,” added Reid Maki, NCL’s director of social responsibility and fair labor standards. “Teen sales crews are often crammed into poorly maintained, unsafe vans and driven by young distracted drivers.” In November 2005, two teenagers were killed and seven were injured when the van they were riding in flipped near Phoenix, Arizona. A month earlier, 20-year-old, James Crawford, was ejected and killed from a van crash in Georgia. Eighteen young adults were crammed into the 15-passenger van when the driver fell asleep. Unfortunately, Jennifer Hammond’s suspected murder is not the first associated with work in traveling sales crews: In November 2007, Tracie Anaya Jones, 19, a member of a traveling sales crew, was found dead of stab wounds in Memphis, Tennessee. Her killing remains unsolved and is featured on “America’s Most Wanted” Web site. In Rapid City, South Dakota in April 2004, a 41-year-old man was charged with murdering a 21-year-old woman who came to his home to sell magazines. nclnet.org Washington, DC Read This Story |
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Magazine scam reported in area Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: My Dynasty November 2, 2009 Magazine scam reported in area Warning about My Dynasty issued By Joe Johnson | joe.johnson@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 9:55 pm on 11/2/2009 Athens Banner-Herald The salesman was one of several fresh-faced young men and women who have been going door to door, selling books and magazine subscriptions for a company called My Dynasty - which authorities said is an apparent scam. Although Athens-Clarke police last week cited three men and a woman for soliciting for My Dynasty without permits, they didn't arrest anyone because there wasn't enough evidence that they were committing fraud, according to police. My Dynasty has a Web site, but no address, telephone number or contact information that police can find, leading investigators to suspect that the company is a fraud, according to Athens-Clarke police Detective Sean McCauley. Several Better Business Bureau offices and police departments have issued warnings about My Dynasty, and many people have posted complaints about the company on fraud alert Web sites. Athens-Clarke police issued a warning last week for residents not to do business with My Dynasty after a 77-year-old resident of the Tanglewood subdivision reported that he'd stopped payment on a check for the "Disney Princesses" book because he suspected he'd been conned. "The M.O. is pretty much the same all over," McCauley said. "They say they are college students who are selling magazine subscriptions because they need money for a trip to London or somewhere else overseas." The man from Tanglewood said he welcomed a man who called himself Patrick Kennedy into his home because he was clean-cut, well-spoken - and even claimed to live nearby and knows the man's neighbors across the street. He said he was a broadcast media major at UGA and needed to raise money so he could go to London and study with the British Broadcasting Corp. "So many kids and college students come around selling stuff, so we assumed that's what it was," the victim said. But after he gave the salesman a check for $55, he discovered that no one named Kennedy lived at the address the salesman gave, and the "student" only knew his neighbors because he had just sold them magazines. The salesman apparently chose a student's name from the UGA directory. "He was a convincing, polite, nice-looking boy," the man said. "He really did his homework and almost got away with it. But I had a gut feeling this wasn't right." Residents can protect themselves against scams by asking salesmen to show their county-issued permits and ID badges, police said, and they should immediately call 911 if someone representing My Dynasty knocks on the door. Anyone with information about the scammers should call McCauley at (706) 613-3850, ext. 141. Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 Athens Banner-Herald onlineathens.com Athens, Georgia Read This Story |
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Did victims share killer? Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation Co. October 31, 2009 Did victims share killer? Police seeking links in the homicides of young women By DENNIS YUSKO, Staff writer http://www.timesunion.com First published: Saturday, October 31, 2009 Hammond's remains were discovered by a hunter earlier this week, in the same backwoods area where White's body was found three years ago. Today, police are questioning if they shared something else: a killer. Police are taking a new look into the stabbing death of White, whose body was found in March 2006 about 9 months after she was reported missing, as they work to develop leads in the Hammond killing. Saratoga Springs Police Sgt. John Catone said he wants to dust off the city's police file of convicted kidnapper John Regan of Connecticut. Catone will talk to State Police and the county Sheriff's Office about the time Regan was believed to be in Saratoga County. On Oct. 31, 2005, four months after White disappeared, Regan tried to abduct a female Saratoga Springs High School student from the school parking lot after sports practice. The girl narrowly escaped with the help of bystanders. Police caught Regan, then 50, who was convicted of attempted kidnapping in the case. Now an inmate at Clinton Correctional Facility, Regan was subsequently convicted of kidnapping in a 1993 case, and stalking and restraining another victim in a 2004 case, in Waterbury, Conn., his hometown. At the time of his Saratoga Springs arrest, Regan was free on $375,000 bail and working on a relative's property while awaiting sentencing on the earlier charges. He is serving a 12-year sentence for the New York conviction and a concurrent 15-year sentence for crimes in Connecticut. He will not be eligible for release until 2021. "If it's not John Regan, do you have a serial killer?" Catone said in an interview Friday. "You have a couple homicides, with both victims found in the same place." State and county police say they do not have a suspect in the Hammond case. County Sheriff James Bowen said in an interview Friday that area residents shouldn't worry about a killer on the loose. He said police handling the cases are open to "everything and anything," including reopening the files of Regan, who had been investigated as a possible suspect in the White case in 2006. "We're not going to speculate on what we are doing or how we are doing it," Bowen said. "We are working a joint investigation and running down leads as we speak." Similarities in Hammond's and White's deaths surfaced after skull fragments belonging to Hammond were found Monday off Lake Desolation Road in Greenfield. The former Littleton, Colo. resident had left home to sell magazine subscriptions door-to-door across the country for Atlantic Circulation Inc. She and about five co-workers came to Albany in August 2003. Police say Hammond's colleagues were the last to see her when they dropped her off to canvass the Creek and Pines mobile home park on Middle Line and Geyser roads, an address a law enforcement official called "big and dicey." More than six years later, fragments of Hammond's skull and jaw were discovered about a mile away from the nearest road in a forested area in Greenfield. Dental work on three recovered teeth were found to match Hammond's records. Family members of Hammond, who was nicknamed "Moonbeam," declined comment when contacted. At the time of her disappearance, Hammond stood 5-foot-2 inches and had light brown hair and hazel eyes. White, according to police, was 5-feet-3 inches and had brown hair and blue eyes. She left her home in Saratoga Village Mobile Home Park on June 30, 2005 to go for a walk, and was last seen after midnight on July 1 near Geyser Road and Rowland Street. Missing young girls include Sara Anne Wood of Herkimer County, who was 12 when she disappeared in 1993, and Tammie McCormick, of Saratoga Springs, who was 14 when she was last seen in 1986. Lewis Lent Jr. was convicted of killing Wood and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in 1997. Dennis Yusko can be reached at 454-5353 or by e-mail at dyusko@timesunion.com. http://www.timesunion.com Albany, New York Read This Story |
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Unease spreads on news of remains Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation Co. October 31, 2009 Unease spreads on news of remains By PAUL POST, The Saratogian Published: Saturday, October 31, 2009 Authorities on Friday conducted what was expected to be a final day’s search for additional clues, following Monday’s discovery of Hammond’s skull by a hunter off Fox Hill Road, in a remote section of Greenfield near the Edinburg town line. The then-18-year-old Colorado woman was last seen alive in late August 2003 at the Creek & Pines Trailer Park, near the intersection of Geyser and Middle Line roads in Milton. Police are treating the case as a homicide, but there are no known suspects. “It’s too close to home when something like this happens,” said Michael Baldwin, owner of Baldwin’s Garage in Middle Grove. “It makes you feel uneasy. What kind of people are living up here that we don’t know about? It could be one you’re dealing with on a regular basis. There’s a lot of questions when you start thinking about it that don’t add up.” From the trailer park, where Hammond was selling magazines, it’s 12 miles — via Sodemann and Lake Desolation roads — to the Fox Hill Road site where state police and forest rangers continued searching on Friday. Hammond’s skull fragments were found some distance off the unpaved town road, and authorities had to hike up a rugged old woods road to reach the location, part of Lake Desolation State Forest. Officials identified Hammond’s remains with dental records. Remains were found in three parts — a skull section, part of the jaw, including some teeth, and a portion of orbital bone. No other skeletal parts have been found. A DNA test of skull fragments is under way at the state police crime lab in Albany with results expected in four to six weeks. “It confirms the identification and gives us a DNA record to have on file,” State Police Major William Sprague said. Three state police vehicles left the Fox Hill Road search site at about 2:30 p.m. Friday, while four state forest ranger vehicles and a half-dozen other cars remained at the scene. State police and the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation. Sprague said the sheriff’s office is the lead agency and deferred questions about evidence and suspects to Sheriff James Bowen, who was not immediately available for comment. If Hammond was abducted, at this point it’s unknown whether she was still alive when taken to Fox Hill Road. Shannon Lutz of Middle Grove said she believes only a person familiar with the area would have taken Hammond there. “People around here know that area, it’s as simple as that,” she said. “They know places nobody else does. That’s what’s scary. It could be one of our customers and we wouldn’t know. We tell our kids this is the kind of thing that could happen anywhere. When it does, it’s kind of shocking.” A manager at Creek & Pines Trailer Park declined comment, and said many of the park’s residents in 2003 have moved elsewhere since then. Hammond’s case has similarities to that of Christina White, a 19-year-old who was last seen in the vicinity of Geyser and Rowland roads in Milton on July 1, 2005. Her badly decomposed body was found on March 10, 2006, at Daketown State Forest in Greenfield, off Lake Desolation Road, which becomes Fox Hill Road. An examination of White’s skeleton revealed she was stabbed. Police say it’s too early to make a connection in the cases. However, Sprague said residents should always be aware of their surroundings. “People have to pay attention to what’s going on around them,” he said. “I’m a big believer in lights,” Baldwin said. The Saratogian saratogian.com Saratoga Springs, New York Read This Story |
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Dental work key to identifying missing Colorado teen Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation October 31, 2009 DENVER AND THE WEST Dental work key to identifying missing Colorado teen By Howard Pankratz The Denver Post Posted: 10/31/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT Updated: 10/31/2009 08:58:27 AM MDT  Jennifer Marie Hammond was missing for six years. On Monday, a hunter in Saratoga County, N.Y., found Hammond's remains six years after the 18-year-old was dropped off at a trailer park in Ballston Spa, N.Y., to sell subscriptions. She was never seen alive again. Her death is being treated as a homicide, said Maj. William Sprague of the New York State Police. "It is absolutely the most horrible thing that could happen to any parent's life," said Hammond's mother, Valerie Tiller. "It was devastating."
At 7 a.m. Friday, they called her and told her Jenny's remains had been found. "I'm so grateful that she will not be forgotten," said her mother, who now lives in Texas. "She will be buried in Colorado. Colorado is where she grew up. Her friends will be able to say goodbye." On Aug. 1, 2003, Hammond was traveling in the area with other young people selling subscriptions for a company called Atlantic Circulation. She was dropped off at the trailer park, and when her ride returned two hours later, she was not there. Sprague said Friday that the hunter found a partial skull, a jawbone and six teeth, three of which had "unique dental work." Police already had dental chart Aware of the individuals who had disappeared in the area, the State Police quickly focused on Hammond, whose family had previously provided investigators with Hammond's dental chart. "We were fortunate that three teeth had unique dental work," Sprague said. "We are sure that these are Jennifer's remains. I believe it offers relief to the family, but we won't have satisfaction until we find out who is responsible." Sprague said DNA tests will also be used to verify the findings. On Friday, Valerie Tiller gave authorities a sample of her DNA to be compared with DNA from the remains. Tiller described her daughter as having an outgoing, friendly personality. She loved the arts. She attended Castle Rock Middle School and then Douglas County High School in Castle Rock. She loved to act and acted in musicals in high school, her mother said. "She wanted to see new places" Hammond had a friend who had sold subscriptions, and selling subscriptions appealed to Hammond because "she wanted to go out and see the world," said Tiller. "She told me she wanted to see new places. She anticipated she would make a little summer money," Tiller said. During her summer in the East, Tiller said, Hammond would call her at least once a month. But before she disappeared, she told her father, Davis Hammond, that she wanted to come home, and Davis Hammond bought her a bus ticket back to Colorado, Tiller said. At the time, Tiller and Davis Hammond were going through a divorce, Tiller said. "She had never been away from home except on family vacations, and I just assumed she was homesick for her family and her sister," said Tiller, referring to Jenny's younger sister, Julie, who is 19 and attending college in Colorado. Hammond was missing for three months before a police report was filed, according to Saratoga County Sheriff James Bowen. She had left the magazine group before without telling others, only to return later, he said. Tiller said her then-husband had given Jenny permission to sell the subscriptions during the summer. But Tiller said in retrospect she doesn't believe selling door-to-door subscriptions is safe. Company has no information "Magazine sales were not, and are not, a safe situation for anyone," Tiller said. "It is not safe for people to go to strange areas and knock on strange doors." Sprague of the New York State Police said Atlantic Circulation has been cooperative. Candra Misal, a supervisor at the York, Pa., company said the firm received numerous calls Friday about Hammond but that Hammond's name is not in their system. "I tried to locate her information, and I was unable to," Misal said. Tiller said that after her daughter's disappearance she went through grief counseling. "I was told if I believed she was dead, I should accept it," Tiller said. "But I felt if I accepted it, it was like I was giving up. "I know where she has been. She has been in heaven." Davis Hammond declined comment Friday. Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com The Denver Post denverpost.com Denver, Colorado Read This Story |
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Proposal would end door-to-door sales October 31, 2009 Proposal would end door-to-door sales By Kevin Haas RRSTAR.COM The Rockford Register Star Posted Oct 31, 2009 @ 10:43 PM Last update Oct 31, 2009 @ 10:45 PM Charitable organizations, religious groups and political solicitors still would be allowed to go from house to house, unless a “No Solicitation” or “No Trespassing” sign is posted. But no others would be welcome.
The proposal will go before the village’s Administration and Finance Committee on Monday for village representatives’ first change to review the new law. Committee member Frank Vitelli said he plans to recommend approval of the ordinance. “I used to live in Elmhurst, and after a while it got really annoying with one person after another knocking on the door,” Vitelli said. “It wasn’t even during the day. It was at night while we’re eating supper.” Resident Jaime Irwin said door-to-door sales are inconvenient. “I’ve been in the middle of doing dinner or trying to take care of the kids,” Irwin said. “When you tell them you don’t want anything they just keep going and going and going.” Resident John Valenta has no problems with Girl Scouts and kids raising money for schools, but others, like those selling magazine subscriptions, can be pushy. “I don’t like being interrupted by them. I feel a lot like it’s the cold-calling you get on the telephone. You don’t really know who the people are, and sometimes they’re pretty intrusive,” Valenta said. “I understand they’re doing their job, but sometimes it seems like they’ll do anything they can to hold you at the door.” The current law allows licensed businesses that have undergone background checks to make residential sales. Strickland said that can be an expensive process, adding that he had to pull the license of a burglary-alarm system business this year for overbearing tactics. Just Energy, a supplier of natural gas, is the only company that is licensed and cleared to make sales in Machesney Park. Spokesman Gord Potter said in a message that it was unsettling that the board may prohibit door-to-door sales. He also said other companies are likely making sales without a license. “I would be shocked to find there aren’t other companies going door to door,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that we’re the only ones to abide by the law.” Reach staff writer Kevin Haas at khaas@rrstar.com or 815-987-1354. RRSTAR.COM rrstar.com The Rockford Register Star Read This Story |
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Fugitive Door-to-Door Magazine Salesman Arrested October 30, 2009 Gainesville Police credit alert citizens for two recent arrests The Gainesville Sun Published: Friday, October 30, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, October 30, 2009 at 3:53 p.m.  Brian Craig  Wilber Johnston A fugitive from Pennsylvania raised one resident's suspicions while peddling magazines door-to-door on Thursday. A man spotted breaking into a car got the attention of another resident early Friday. Both men were arrested on felony charges within hours of police being alerted. Wilbur Johnston III, 23, was arrested on a Pennsylvania warrant charging him with theft, receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Brian Allen Craig, 24, was arrested on three counts of vehicle burglary and one count each of criminal mischief and resisting arrest. A resident of the 5600 block of Northwest 26th Street called police after Johnston came to the person's door claiming to be selling magazine subscriptions. "In this day and age, anyone who is coming to your door in the middle of the work day should raise suspicions," said Gainesville police spokesman Lt. Keith Kameg. Police questioned Johnston and, while confirming his identity, discovered he was wanted on the outstanding warrants. Craig was arrested after being reported to police in connection incidents in the 4000 block of Northeast First Terrace. A woman told police that she spotted a man pulling on several car-door handles and then walking through a neighbor's yard and opening their car doors before heading toward her house. The woman said she woke her husband, who chased the man out of their yard. Officer Justin Torres said he spotted a suspect at MeadowCrest Apartments, 110 N.W. 39th Ave., but the man ran when he noticed Torres. Officer Charlie Owens and his K9 partner Justice tracked the man to an apartment door. Officers said they knocked, the man who opened the door was identified as Craig and as the man who ran from Torres and the car owner. Police said that Craig denied burglarizing any vehicles and said he had been in the neighborhood to buy marijuana. gainesville.com Gainesville, Florida Read This Story |
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Police still trying to find alleged bogus magazine sellers October 30, 2009 Police still trying to find alleged bogus magazine sellers By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer Chico Enterprise-Record Posted: 10/30/2009 12:07:33 AM PDT Over the past several weeks residents have reported salespeople coming to their doors claiming to be raising funds for Chico American Legion Baseball, The Chico State University student council and soldiers serving in Iraq. Contacts have been reported both inside and outside Chico city limits, and the Butte County Sheriff's Office is also involved in the investigation. Police said they're particularly concerned because many of the victims are elderly, and alleged scam artists have been invited into their homes to make their sales pitch. In one case an elderly woman who bought a subscription was the intended victim of a telephone scam the next day. She didn't fall for it, but police believe it may be connected to the door-to-door scam. Police note that alleged fraudsters currently working the Chico area are typically in their 20's, and often travel in rented vans with out-of-state license plates. The salespeople are characterized as being very skilled at getting victims to fall for their scam, sometimes gathering information from residents so they can use it to their advantage at other stops. They often claim to be relatives or friends of people in the area. Police are pursuing leads into the identities of the alleged scammers and want to speak with anyone who believes they've had contact with them. The Chico police detective bureau can be reached at 897-5820 during normal business hours, or call 895-4911 after hours. Chico Enterprise-Record http://www.chicoer.com Chico, California Read This Story |
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Police still trying to find alleged bogus magazine sellers October 30, 2009 Magazine Sales Scam Alert Reporter: Michele Nicholson, O-C-S-O WJHG News Channel 7 Posted: 9:28 PM Oct 30, 2009 WJHG News Channel 7 http://www.wjhg.com Okaloosa County, Florida Read This Story |
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Skull fragments identified as missing Colo. woman Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation Co. October 29, 2009 Skull fragments identified as missing Colo. woman By PAUL POST The Saratogian Published: Thursday, October 29, 2009  This undated photo of Jessica Hammond was provided by the New York State Police. Hammond, 18 at the time, was last seen in the latter part of August 2003, soliciting magazines in the Creek and Pines Trailer Park in Ballston Spa. Skull fragments found in a remote part of Greenfield were positively identified as the missing Colorado woman. (Photo provided) BALLSTON SPA – For the family of 18-year-old Jennifer M. Hammond, the wait and hope are over. Police on Thursday positively identified skull fragments discovered Monday in a remote part of Greenfield as belonging to the Colorado woman who was last seen at the Creek and Pines Trailer Park, in Milton, in late August 2003. Police say they’re handling the case as a homicide, but have no suspects. “Everyone wants to know where their loved one is,” Saratoga County Sheriff James Bowen said. “At least it will give closure to the family.” Hammond, originally from Littleton, Colo., was selling magazines in the area with her employer, Atlantic Circulation Co. She failed to appear at a designated pickup point and was never heard or seen from again. Remains found Monday were identified with a check of dental records involving a number of unsolved local missing persons cases. “There was sufficient surfaces as well as dental work that had been done to compare it to her records,” said Saratoga County District Attorney James Murphy III. State Police Major William Sprague said, “We were fortunate to get an identification this early in the case. We have found nothing else other than what secure on the first and second day (Monday and Tuesday). We are still looking for other things.” The sheriff’s office and state police are conducting a joint investigation. “They’ll continue to search that area of the woods,” Murphy said. “Nearby, there might be more remains or bones. Certainly the search will broaden in scope.” Check back at www.saratogian.com or in Friday's newspaper for additional details on this developing story. The Saratogian saratogian.com Saratoga Springs, New York Read This Story |
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Lakewood hotel beating: Magazine sales job turns into nightmare October 24, 2009 Lakewood hotel beating: Magazine sales job turns into nightmare Lakewood: Police, prosecutors charge six fellow workers with robbery, assault after beating BRIAN EVERSTINE; The News Tribune Published: 10/24/09 12:05 am | Updated: 10/24/09 So he joined a traveling crew selling magazines. He believed the promise of money, fun and travel. For three years, he slept on motel room floors after working 14 hours a day, six days a week. Not only were the days long, but they also could turn mean. To make sure he put subscription sales above all else, Martin said in a recent interview with The News Tribune, he was brainwashed, threatened and sometimes beaten. But nothing was as bad as what happened to him earlier this month after he told his boss he was leaving the crew. Police and prosecutors say six members of Martin’s crew broke into his room at a Lakewood motel Oct. 12 and beat Martin and his best friend with baseball bats, a golf club and brass knuckles. Six people were arrested in connection with the attack. Martin and his friend – who The News Tribune is not naming because he could not be reached for this story – had put up with mistreatment for years because they had nowhere else to go. They were stuck in an industry that experts say is unregulated and thrives on violence and coercion. “There is no regulation of this industry at all,” said Earlene Williams, who runs Parent Watch, an organization created to keep tabs on the industry and help those who want to get out. At any one time, more than 200 traveling magazine crews are working in the United States, Williams said. Because the crews are constantly traveling, no single entity can watch over what they do, she said. Martin could have used the help. “The only thing I wanted from this game was to get out if it,” he said. WASHINGTON WAS THEIR GOAL Earlier this year, in a Baltimore motel room, Martin and his friend decided it was time to end their “mag crew” life. They had the perfect place to go. “Washington was always it,” Martin said. “We said once we get to Washington, we’re through.” The state was just what he expected. The rain was rough, but the people, the diversity, the girls – this was it. The Northwest was where Martin would finally begin his life. This fall, he and his friend finally made it. Martin told his bosses he was out of the business once they were done with the area. Two weeks later, on the night of Oct. 12, Martin was relaxing on the floor of his Best Night Inn motel room. His friend was in the bed, watching “Family Guy.” A roommate came in to pack up some things, and asked to use the bathroom. As he opened the door to the bathroom, several crew members came into the room and started beating Martin and his friend, court documents state. In the interview with The News Tribune Martin told what happened next: He said he was on the floor when a crew member started hitting him with a bat.The others were screaming and kicking. “I get met with a bat,” Martin recalled. “I was lying on the ground, getting hit, and I was able to hold on to the bat. He said, ‘Let go of the bat!’ Someone in the back said, ‘Hey, let me get some of Jeremy.’” Martin was hit repeatedly with a golf club. He said the only thing that saved him was that the club broke when someone smashed his ankle with it. He was able to see his friend, still on the bed. He looked unconscious and bloodied. The crew members kept beating him. He couldn’t move. He just kept taking the blows, Martin said. “I remember thinking, ‘Man, just leave him alone,’” Martin said. “What else can you do? There was no justice in those swings.” Earlier that week, Martin suspected he was in trouble and asked the motel to keep an eye on his room. Police were called quickly after the beating began. The attackers had a lookout and immediately fled as officers arrived. Police stopped the group’s white Ford Expedition in the parking lot. Six men were inside One had brass knuckles and a loaded gun, police said. Officers arrested the six men: Glenn A. Pinkney, 21; Vespucci D. Cole, 39; Richard H. Griffith, 36; Samuel Cole, 40; Joshua T. Neloms, 24; and Jonathon B. Massey, 21. All were charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault and have pleaded not guilty. Pierce County deputy prosecutor Sunni Ko said the charges could change once she reviews medical records about the injuries Martin and his friend suffered. Martin hurt his back, leg and ankle, along with multiple cuts. His friend spent a week in the hospital with head injuries. Calls to four of the men’s attorneys seeking comment were not returned. The other two declined to comment because they had just received the case and had not been able to visit with their clients. PROMISES UNFULFILLED Managers of the organizations whose crews roam the country selling magazine subscriptions advertise for workers in job publications, on Web sites and through signs placed across the country. The ads promise money, a fun atmosphere and travel across the United States. Martin saw such a sign when he was living in Texas, called the phone number and ended up joining the crew in Chicago. “We come with the hope of actually being able to do something,” he said. “But it’s nothing but a lie.” Martin said he was promised he’d be paid based on the number of subscriptions he sold. His pay varied each week – sometimes he calculated it should have been $1,000 – but he never got what he thought he’d earned, he said. Plus, he had to pay for his food and rent. In the end, he was pretty much broke. No one connected with the organization that ran the crew Martin worked in could be reached for this story. The groups he was familiar with vary from a dozen people working in sales to up to 50. In many cases, they stay for a few months in one city, packed into motels. Martin said he worked 12 to 14 hours a day, six days a week, with Sundays off except for the daily meeting. Managers held meetings every day at 7 a.m. There, Martin said, he was “brainwashed” to consider only profit and production. In the closed environment of motels and vans, salespeople cared only about their status and sales, thinking it would give them money and respect. It became their only focus, and many forgot they were sleeping in motels, barely making any money at all. “Once they get in, they’re hoping the status gives them freedom from abuse,” said Williams of Parent Watch. The biggest threat, she said, is brutality. “Something that is unique to this industry is the level of violence,” she said. Salespeople are beaten for not making a quota in sales, Williams said. Some managers even drive sellers out in the middle of nowhere in a strange area and abandon them. The Web site travelingsalescrews.info tracks violent incidents involving crews through news reports. It has counted more than 300 felony cases and 86 deaths involving magazine crews over the years. Williams’ organization helps crew members seeking a way out. She said she gets multiple calls daily asking for help. This week, while she was speaking to someone trying to get out of a crew, a manager came in and beat him, she said. READY FOR STABILITY Martin said he was jealous of the homeowners he visited in neighborhoods where he touted magazines. He wants a home, but since the attack, he’s without a stable place to live. He hopes to work both a day and a night job until he has a place to “lay my head without worrying about it getting kicked in,” he said. “All I want to do is live a normal life,” Martin said. “I want a gym membership. I want to play basketball on Sundays. I want to go to church. I want neighbors.” He said he plans to stay in the area, because Washington was always his goal. What happened at the motel wasn’t because of where he was working, he said, it was the people he was working with. Martin does have advice for anyone in his position three years ago when he joined the “mag life.” “There’s got to be something better,” he said. “This ain’t even a last resort. You’re going backwards.” Brian Everstine: 253-597-8374 brian.everstine@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/crime 253-597-8374 brian.everstine@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/crime thenewstribune.com Tacoma, Washington Read This Story |
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Magazine subscription seller claims links to American Legion baseball October 21, 2009 Magazine subscription seller claims links to American Legion baseball By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer Chico Enterprise-Record Posted: 10/21/2009 12:07:03 AM PDT He's reportedly knocked on the door of American Legion officials, who quickly discovered holes in his story. Tom Stevens, the director of American Legion baseball in Chico, said the league isn't currently doing any fundraising, and would never solicit money door-to-door. The salesman, described as being between 18 and 21, reportedly tells prospects he's raising money to send Chico teams to a tournament in Hawaii. American Legion officials believe the man is a local, and said he gathers information about the league as he goes door-to-door, so he can use it in his sales pitch. In one case, Stevens said, he got information from the mother of a former player. At least one resident has written him a substantial check. "We've verified that the person he's having checks written to is deceased," Laver said. "We don't know if he's got an account open in that name or not." Stevens said the man is hurting the image of American Legion baseball, which has been active in Chico for 70 years. Sgt. George Laver said the case has been turned over to Chico police detectives. The Butte County Sheriff's Office is also investigating, since several of the sales contacts have taken place in the county. Laver said no one should ever make out a check supporting an organization in the name of an individual. "The check should always be made out to the organization," he said. Chico Enterprise-Record chicoer.com Chico, California Read This Story |
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Several women suspected in scam Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Atlantic Circulation Incorporated October 20, 2009 Several women suspected in scam Police: Group is allegedly selling fake magazine subscriptions Chris Butler, Reporter The Ruston Daily Leader 10-20-2009 Members of the group are all women ages 18-24 and affiliated with the Atlantic Circulation Incorporated. Police recently told the women to cease their activities and leave Ruston. None of the women were arrested. Police received reports that the women sold almost 40 fraudulent magazine subscriptions to people in the city, said Lt. Curtis Hawkins, spokesman for the Ruston Police Department. “Several of these girls were claiming to be from this area. In fact, they are all (mostly) from the West Coast,” Hawkins said. The women were actually from various places in New Mexico, California, Florida, Utah, Washington state and Oregon, Hawkins said. “They deceived and lied to numerous people saying they were from Ruston and that this was a local activity. It would have taken a citizen to ask only a couple of questions to verify they were local. Local residents should call the organization they claim to be from to verify they are who they say they are, if there is any doubt,” Hawkins said. Police received reports last weekend that the women were going door-to-door selling magazine subscriptions. They located one of the women on East Maryland Street. They later learned that six other women were also in Ruston trying to sell magazine subscriptions, Hawkins said. “Their sales pitch was that they were attempting to earn money and prizes through magazine subscriptions. One said they were trying to make money for their senior trip. They said they earned points by the number of sales they made,” Hawkins said. Sgt. Clint Williams began investigating their activities and learned that numerous people in other areas have complained about them to the Better Business Bureau. He also learned that 37 people in Ruston had given money to them for magazine subscriptions, Hawkins said. “This group even went so far as to claim that they got more points if they would pay through an ATM transaction. They tried to get customers to pay with cash so that they could get the money right then,” Hawkins said. “This is not the first time this group has come through Ruston.” Many people across the country have complained about members of the Atlantic Circulation Incorporated selling fraudulent magazine subscriptions, according to a Google search of the company. Police think that there are possibly more unidentified victims in Ruston who purchased fraudulent magazine subscriptions. Police ask any potential victims to call them at 255-4141, Hawkins said. The Ruston Daily Leader rustonleader.com Ruston, Louisiana Read This Story |
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Door to Door Magazine Scam Alert October 20, 2009 Door to Door Magazine Scam Alert Reported by: John Matarese Email: jmatarese@wcpo.com WCPO-TV WCPO is an ABC affiliate Last Update: 2:00 pm Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center would like to warn Greater Cincinnati residents about a recent scam that is going on. There are door to door salespeople who are selling magazines and books claiming that the proceeds will benefit Cincinnati Children's. The hospital would like residents to know that this is a scam and that these monies are not going back to the hospital. If one of the sales people knock on your door Cincinnati Children's is suggesting that you DO NOT purchase any materials. If you want more information about how to legitimately donate money to the hospital, people can call 513-636-4561 or go to www.cincinnatichildrens.com/donate. Email: jmatarese@wcpo.com WCPO-TV WCPO is an ABC affiliate wcpo.com Cincinnati, Ohio Read This Story |
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Colebrookdale Township OKs ordinance requiring registration of door-to-door sellers October 20, 2009 Colebrookdale Township OKs ordinance requiring registration of door-to-door sellers By Harlan Snyder Reading Eagle Press Reading Eagle Company Last Update: 10/20/2009 12:04:00 AM - By Harlan Snyder Reading Eagle Press Reading Eagle Company readingeagle.com Reading, Pennsylvania Read This Story |
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North Alabama BBB getting complaints about magazine solicitors Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Face to Face Technologies October 19, 2009 North Alabama BBB getting complaints about magazine solicitors WAFF 48 News Posted: Oct 19, 2009 5:47 PM CDT Updated: Oct 19, 2009 9:49 PM CDT Several complaints have come in to the Better Business Bureau about magazine solicitors in the past week. Mostly from the Decatur area, but WAFF 48 News spoke to a Madison man Monday who said he fears he was almost taken and wants to warn others. Lance Allen initially wasn't suspicious of the two people who knocked on his apartment door in Madison Saturday night. "It was these two college age girls saying they were selling magazines raising money for charity and in a contest, where they collected points," Allen said. They asked to come inside and eventually Allen's fiance wrote out a check for four magazine subscriptions. But when the girls left, the couple's suspicions rose. "Googled the name of the company, immediately it just brought up several returns," Allen said. They were all negative, including reports of people never receiving the magazines they paid for, even months later. And difficulty getting a hold of the company to see about a refund. Michele McDaniel of the Better Business Bureau tells us Face to Face Technologies, the company the girls claimed to work for, has had 284 complaints filed against it in the past three years, including a least a half dozen filed last week from Morgan County. "They have F ratings. Primarily because they have complaints that have been registered that they did not responded to or resolve," McDaniel said. By federal law, people have 72 hours to cancel a purchase made from a door-to-door salesperson. That request must be done in writing and postmarked within three business days of your purchase. You can also do as Lance Allen did and put a stop payment on the check and change your bank account number. Here are some red flags to look out for if you're approached: If the salesperson is pushy and encourages you to pay in cash, if they are from out of town and if they ask to come into your home. waff.com Madison, Alabama Read This Story |
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Officials warn students of potential scammers Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Pacific Coast Clearing Service October 18, 2009 Officials warn students of potential scammers Charley Groth Kirkwood Community College Communique' Online Issue date: 9/18/09 Section: News The student, who prefers to remain anonymous, said the "sales" person pushed herself into his Village East apartment and handed him a glossy, official-looking list of magazine subscriptions to choose from. "She said she needed to earn points so that she could get a trip to Hawaii," he said. Wanting to help out this fellow student and wanting her out of his kitchen, he agreed to a subscription of ESPN Magazine, wrote a check and received a sticker for his door, to supposedly alert other magazine "salesmen" of his purchase so they wouldn't bother him. "I felt kinda stupid after she left," said the student. Suspicious, he called a friend to tell him about the experience and found out that the friend, too, had just written a check to the same company, Pacific Coast Clearing Services. With a little digging, they discovered that no one affiliated with Kirkwood was selling magazines and Pacific Coast Clearing Service, based out of Gig Harbor, Wash., has a reputation of popping up all over the country peddling phony or non-existent subscriptions. Though some people tried to call Pacific Coast Clearing Service, they reached a message announcing the office hours and asked the caller to call back later, even though the business should have been open. "I knew it was a scam right away," said Brenda Cooley, a Kirkwood instructor who was notified of the incident by the anonymous student's mother. "This has been a problem for a couple of years." If your trusting Iowan nature insists that you open the door for a stranger, at least keep your eyes open for these telltale signs of a rip-off artist. First, ask for the solicitor's identification and permit. Be wary of someone asking for a donation to benefit an organization or purpose. When the solicitor asks for cash or even offers a reduced price for cash, the conversation should be over. Cooleysaid she thinks Kirkwood could include information about potential scammers in its freshman orientation. She said the apartments around campus could also warn students when they sign the lease. Other scams that college students should be aware of, according to Scambusters.org, are, above all, identity theft. College students can be heavy Internet users and scammers are constantly trolling social networking sites like Facebook collecting data that could be used to steal your identity or put you on lists for later data mining. Since the whole point of these sites is to divulge personal information, only complete social networking abstinence will save you here. Also, beware of scholarship scams. Many services online will charge you a fee to match you up with a scholarship but this is totally unnecessary because scholarship information is available free online at sites like FastWeb.com or FindTuition.com. Along with this, don't respond to offers of student loans. Your first stop should be the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Then, if you need more money, go to a bank or a source that you know is reputable. Luckily, the two students in this story were able to cancel their checks in time, walking away from the experience unscathed monetarily but more weary of the next knock at the door. Kirkwood Community College Communique' Online media.www.kirkwoodstudentmedia.com Cedar Rapids, Iowa Read This Story |
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Fayette Scam Warning Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Dynasty Sales, LLC October 18, 2009 Fayette Scam Warning Advisory Message has been issued by the Tyrone Police Department. Georgia Front Page fayettefrontpage.com Sunday October 18, 2009 16:38 PM EDT Thanks, Chief Brandon Perkins fayettefrontpage.com Fayetteville, Georga Read This Story |
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Sales scam hits Butte County October 17, 2009 Sales scam hits Butte County Staff Reports Chico Enterprise-Record Posted: 10/17/2009 03:07:42 PM PDT Chico Enterprise-Record chicoer.com Chico, California Read This Story |
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Itinerant Magazine Gangs Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Companys: OverAchievers USA Fresh Start Opportunities http://www.freshstartopportunities.com Trade Group: National Field Selling Association - NFSA http://www.nfsa.com October 16, 2009 Itinerant Magazine Gangs, Er, Salespeople Getting Meaner - Lamorindans Shutting Their Doors Posted by J.D. at 8:34 AM Friday, October 16, 2009 EastBayDaze Lamorinda's Alternative eNewspaper "Hi, I'm Mike, Jane's son. We live on Donald - you've probably seen my mom, she's the one walking the Golden Retriever every morning - and I'm selling magazine subscriptions for the Moraga Bandits baseball team..." We asked him where he lived again and he pointed vaguely up the street - in the wrong direction. "I'm selling these subscriptions... if I sell enough the team gets to go to Sacramento." Holding out his order pad. None of it smelled right, and we asked him to break out the ID. He showed us a lame, peeling, Kinko-laminated card with someone else's picture on it and "OverAchievers USA" at the bottom and it all came together. "You're with the group that killed the woman in Lafayette," we said and he looked like we'd hit him with a two-by-four. "Dude..." "Let's go talk to your mom... up there on Donald. If she can vouch for you, we'll support the team." That's when it all fell apart, and he began to prance around, muttering veiled threats and finally breaking when we told him to hit the road. He went by a few minutes later in the van they use to bring the kids in, flipping off the house. OverAchievers has changed its name, of course, after one of their "salesmen" raped and killed a Lafayette woman a few years back, and we were surprised the kid was still using one of the old IDs. The game is to recruit kids, pump them up about selling, give them a thinly veiled but outwardly believable cover story and send them into "well-to-do" neighborhoods to pick off what money they can. With the economy being what it is there is no end of "recruits" and the "companies" that recruit them are getting even more ruthless. Two boys working as itinerant magazine salesmen were beaten with baseball bats and golf clubs on Monday night when they told their bosses they wanted to quit, the police in Lakewood Wash., say. The victims remain hospitalized, and six men were charged in the attack and are in jail, police said. The Washington state attorney general’s office said Thursday that it was considering civil penalties against the magazine sales company, Fresh Start Opportunities. As usual, there were quite a few complaints lodged against "Fresh Start" (don't you just love the irony in these names?) which has said it is a charity working to help at-risk youth get work experience, even though the company is not registered as a charity. Consumers have also reported never receiving the magazines that Fresh Start Opportunities sold them, and last October a member of one of the crews was charged in a robbery and assault on a customer. EastBayDaze did a little digging and found that these magazine sales companies recruit young people to travel the country living in motels and selling subscriptions, often with a pitch tied to a charitable cause. In 2007, The New York Times reported that many sellers find that their wages are withheld by the company once they begin traveling. Many sellers also faced physical threats or violence if they asked to leave or were abandoned penniless and hundreds of miles from home. A request for comment from National Field Selling Association, which represents many of the magazine sellers went unanswered. The phone number for Fresh Start Opportunities has been disconnected. You may want to keep that in mind the next time a fresh-faced kid turns up on your doorstep... and they will. Posted by J.D. at 8:34 AM EastBayDaze Lamorinda's Alternative eNewspaper eastbaydaze.com Lamorinda, California Read This Story |
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Lafayette, California Salesman pleads guilty to 2005 slaying of elderly Lafayette woman Door-to-Door Sales Company: Overachievers December 30, 2008 By Malaika Fraley CONTRA COSTA TIMES Posted: 12/30/2008 07:57:27 PM PST Updated: 12/31/2008 06:33:50 AM PST For more information on OverAchievers Rape/Murder Case see Breaking News 2008 http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/door to door sales 2008.html For Additional Info. On OverAchievers Rape/Murder Seacrh: Richard Craig McNew |
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Six Charged in Beatings of Salesmen Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Fresh Start Opportunities October 15, 2009 Six Charged in Beatings of Salesmen By IAN URBINA The New York Times Published: October 15, 2009 The victims remain hospitalized, and six men were charged in the attack and are in jail, the authorities said. In the wake of the incident, the state attorney general’s office said Thursday that it was considering civil penalties against the magazine sales company, Fresh Start Opportunities. “There have been repeated complaints about this company,” said Kristin Alexander, a spokeswoman for the state consumer protection division. “And we intend to do something about it.” Ms. Alexander said her office had recently issued two warnings about the company, which has said it is a charity working to help at-risk youth get work experience, even though the company is not registered as a charity. Consumers have also reported never receiving the magazines that Fresh Start Opportunities sold them, and last October a member of one of the crews was charged in a robbery and assault on a customer, Ms. Alexander said. Magazine sales companies recruit young people to travel the country living in motels and selling subscriptions, often with a pitch tied to a charitable cause. But in 2007, an article in The New York Times reported that many sellers find that their wages are withheld by the company once they begin traveling. Many sellers also faced physical threats or violence if they asked to leave or were abandoned penniless and hundreds of miles from home. Prosecution has been difficult because the crews are typically categorized as “independent contractors,” which insulates the companies from regulation, taxes and liability, and exempts them from most federal and state minimum wage and overtime requirements. A request for comment from National Field Selling Association, which represents many of the magazine sellers got no response. The phone number for Fresh Start Opportunities has been disconnected. “The economy is bad, so more kids are desperate for work and are joining crews,” said Earlene Williams, the director of Parent Watch, an industry watchdog group. Ms. Williams said she received about 10 emergency calls a day from crewmembers, nearly double what it was a year or so ago. “But no one is buying subscriptions either, so many of these kids are being moved several states from where they live and then abandoned,” she said. In March, a Wisconsin law made it more difficult to declare salespeople independent contractors, rather than employees protected by federal labor laws. Ms. Williams said she was pushing federal legislators to pass a similar measure. The New York Times nytimes.com New York, New York Read This Story |
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Southwestern Company Slave Labor? Door to door sales? Door-to-Door Sales Company: Southwestern Company Trade Group: Direct Selling Association - DSA October 14, 2009 Southwestern Company Slave Labor? Door to door sales? October 14th, 2009 | Author: admin recruitmorefast.com I have read a few yahoo answers regarding this company and it is blatantly obvious that these Q & A’s are coming directly from people from that company as they hit all the "Talking points". It appears that they pose the ? and than provide the answer. Just a bit suspicious in my opinion. I would like to know if anyone here thinks that it is a MLM brainwashing program that lures foreign students to America to work 80 hours a week, knocking on doors, without ANY free, personal time…and if you feel it is morally right to subject them to such an outdated sales practice, without first informing them that Americans do NOT like people knocking on their doors anymore than we like telemarketers! I wonder if the SOUTHWESTERN Company executives are on the DO NOT CALL TELEMARKETER LIST ? Any opinions on this Company and their sales tactics would be greatly appreciate There are a million more like them. Usually, they pick foreign or very poor young men and women who are desperate for money. I have seen it happen a lot. recruitmorefast.com Read This Story |
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Research The Southwestern Company and The DSA: Research http://www.travelingsalescrews.info/southwestern company.html |
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Beaten with clubs, bats: High-pressure sales? Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Fresh Start Opportunities October 14, 2009 Beaten with clubs, bats: High-pressure sales? By Sabra Gertsch KVAL TV Story Published: Oct 14, 2009 at 9:01 AM PDT Investigators say trouble began after the group gathered at a room at the Best Night Inn in Tacoma. When two of the men announced they wanted out of the magazine-selling operation, they were beaten with baseball bats and golf clubs. The attackers ran off, but just blocks away, police stopped a white SUV that didn't have its headlights on. Police grew suspicious when one of the men inside the car lied about his name. When officers found that same person was armed with brass knuckles and a gun, all six men in the car were taken into custody. What's more, the state Attorney General's Office says the men were not selling magazines. Order forms for a company called Fresh Start Opportunities were found in the hotel room. Just a few weeks ago, the attorney general issued a second warning about a door-to-door scam involving a company by that name. Fresh Start claims to give young adults a fresh start on life with the money consumers pay for magazine subscriptions. But people across the country reported getting no magazines for their donations ranging from $50 and $800. The two victims' conditions were not known. The six men who were arrested have been booked into the Pierce County Jail. KVAL TV kval.com Eugene, Oregon Read This Story |
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Lakewood police arrested six in assault on fellow magazine salesmen October 13, 2009 Lakewood police arrested six in assault on fellow magazine salesmen Posted By Stacey Mulick on October 13, 2009 at 3:06 pm The News Tribune The victims, ages 27 and 30, were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries, Lakewood police Lt. Heidi Hoffman said. The extent of their injuries was not known. The six arrested men were booked into Pierce County Jail this morning on first-degree assault and other charges. The men range in age from 21 to 40, Hoffman said. The incident occurred Monday night at a hotel on South Tacoma Way. Hoffman reports the suspects and victims are magazine salesmen. A fight broke out when the victims tried to leave the company. The suspects reportedly beat the victims with baseball bats and golf clubs, then fled about 11:45 p.m. Lakewood police officers stopped a white SUV at 92nd Street South and South Tacoma Way because it didn't have its lights on, Hoffman said. While officers were contacting the occupants, they noticed the driver and a passenger were sweaty. During the traffic stop, the assault was reported. The occupants of the SUV matched the descriptions of the suspects in the assault. A passenger provided officers with a false name. They asked him to get out of the rig and found he was in possession of a gun and brass knuckles. Those items were taken as evidence, Hoffman said. The driver and the other occupants of the SUV were arrested in the beating. The News Tribune blog.thenewstribune.com Tacoma Washington Read This Story |
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Beware of magazine sales scam on your porch Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Fresh Start Opportunities October 13, 2009 Beware of magazine sales scam on your porch THE OLYMPIAN | • Published October 13, 2009 http://www.theolympian.com Olympia, Washington Read This Story |
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Magazine scammers back in town Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Face To Face Technologies October 12, 2009 Magazine scammers back in town By CHARLES WHISENANT - The Arab Tribune Monday, October 12, 2009 9:49 AM CDT Several residents called APD Wednesday to report young people were going door to door in the Ninth Street NW and 12th Avenue NW areas. The problem is that, in almost all cases, the people who buy subscriptions don't get their magazines, or they get one or two and never get another one, police said. "I located the subjects at a residence on Fourth Avenue," officer Dan Woodruff reported. "Neither subject could produce identification, and they had no business license. They told me they were selling magazines for a company. I told them to call their coordinator and have him pick them up and to discontinue the process until they had a business license." Three vans that had dropped the sellers off had license plates from Oregon, Texas and Louisiana. Remembering problems with magazine sellers in Arab last year, Cpl. Mark Wright researched the company on the internet. "The company's website describes how young people can make money fast," Wright reported. "All evidence shows that this is a scam." Wright urged anyone who might have bought magazines Wednesday from those people, who were representing Face To Face Technologies, to immediately stop payment on their check. "All you have to do is type in Face To Face and you will get pages and pages of scams," Wright said. A Google search of Face To Face Technologies reveals several websites with customers' comments accusing the company of scamming them. Most of the salespeople are 18 to 22 years old, Wright said. "As far as the (salespeople), I don't know that they realize they are doing anything wrong," he said. "They are coached to tell a story that they are trying to win a trip or a scholarship. They say they are working their way through college. "They are all from out of state, and they are coached not to carry personal identification," he said. "I don't really think they are a danger to the public, but they are a nuisance." Wright said he appreciates residents reporting the salespeople to police. "A lot of times these kids go into a town and slip out undetected because people don't call us," he said. "We found them Wednesday and chewed them out pretty good. I don't know if they'll heed the warning, but I hope they do." Wright said the salespeople are coached to target neighborhoods with elderly and retired people and try to get them to feel sorry for them or encourage them to help with their college expenses by buying the magazines. On Wednesday, Wright and Woodruff identified about a dozen salespeople, but said there were probably more. "They have no business license, and they have no business doing what they are doing," Wright said. On its website, the company claims it is a direct marketing company that is nationally recognized. "We provide an adventurous, exciting career opportunity for those that want to travel, make money, and have fun," the website says. "We will teach you more about yourself than you ever thought possible. "We give young people the chance to see the country and make an unlimited amount of money. Our company enhances the public speaking skills of each sales rep., helps them to become more confident in their ability to engage in conversation, and strengthens their communication skills that can be implemented into any business situation." "We stay in each city about two to three weeks at a time (depending on the size of the city and size of the group you are with)," the site says. "We also stay in quality hotels that usually have a weight room and swimming pool." The site claims that sales reps can earn between $500 and $1,500 per week. "Your expenses after completing training are $13 a day for rent, which is deducted directly out of your commissions on a daily basis, six days a week and the company always covers the travel and transportation," the site claims. "The sales presentation is based around a company-sponsored contest where you have the opportunity to win a $1,000 achievement award check and an all expense one-week-paid vacation every six months." thearabtribune.com Arab, Alabama Read This Story |
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Magazine subscriptions: Old scam gets new life October 12, 2009 Magazine subscriptions: Old scam gets new life Monday, October 12, 2009 10:31 PM EDT By SCOTT WHIPPLE Staff writer New Britian Herald You get home from grocery shopping and are unpacking the frozen foods when your doorbell rings. You open the front door and there’s a teenage kid — you’ve seen him before, riding his bike. He’s standing in your doorway with a pad and pen. Seems he’s raising money for his high school band’s trip to “the Rent” in East Hartford to watch the Huskies play football. He’s selling several popular magazines, all at discount rates. Just sign here and help your local high school. Valuemags.com, “the Web site for people who love magazines,” suggests at this point you politely but firmly shut the door. Often these salespeople are part of an aggressive sales force that preys on low-income people eager to make a buck. They themselves may be victims of rip-off artists who may never pay them or at least not pay them the commission they have been promised. As with most scams, if a promise sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That’s the case with many offers for magazine subscriptions you may receive over the phone or from someone selling door to door. The Connecticut Society of CPAs has sharpened its eye after hearing some of its members complain that their clients are becoming a target for scams. In fact, Berlin resident Marc Austin, a CPA and Certified Financial Planner for West Hartford-based Private Capital Group, LLC offers advice on how to be sure you’re not getting ripped off. “Some scam artists will try to get you to accept a ‘free’ subscription offer or one that has been ‘prepaid,’” Austin says. “Typically, they’ll ask you to pay a hefty processing fee that may add up to more than the newsstand price of the publication. In the end, the deal is no bargain.” Of course, many magazine subscription offers from telemarketers and door-to-door salespeople are legitimate. But even though some offers you get are legal, they may not necessarily be the best deal financially. According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are ways to make sure you’re spending your money wisely when it comes to subscriptions. First, ask what your total cost will be. If the salesperson doesn’t answer or changes the subject, it’s a sign the deal could be a scam. If the salesperson tells you the subscription only costs “pennies a day,” be sure to get an answer on the full price you’ll pay. You may find that those pennies add up to far more than you imagined. Austin points out that some salespeople may not tell you you’re actually signing up for a subscription that lasts several years. “Once you verify the total cost and how long the subscription lasts, you may realize you’re paying significantly more per issue than you would if you bought the magazine on the newsstand or through the publisher,” he says. Ask how you’ll be billed and what your cancellation rights are. Ask for a written copy of the contract before you agree to subscribe to ensure you have all the necessary information in writing. Remember, if your purchase is more than $25 you’re protected from door-to-door magazine salespeople. The FTC’s “Cooling Off Rule” gives you three days to cancel your order and receive a full refund. (There’s no federal law that regulates the cancellation of telephone agreements.) The salesperson must tell you that you have a right to cancel, give you a summary of your cancellation rights and two copies of the cancellation form. If the salesperson doesn’t have a cancellation form with him or her — red flag! According to the FTC, the company he or she represents is breaking the law. “Telemarketers often urge you to renew a subscription at a special rate,” Austin says. “Before you agree, check the expiration date on your magazine. The caller may simply be trying to sell you a longer subscription before it’s time to renew.” In tough times, con artists and hard-sell telemarketers try even harder to separate you from your money. “That’s why it’s a good idea to get to know your local CPA,” says Austin. “You can turn to us for answers about financial issues facing your family.” Scott Whipple can be reached at swhipple@centralctcommunications.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, ext. 319. Buyer beware from the Connecticut BBB Connecticut’s Better Business Bureau urges consumers to be careful when solicited by anyone selling magazine subscriptions, whether door-to-door or by telephone. “Scams over the years have involved subscription sales, some of them quite sophisticated,” says Connecticut BBB Communications Director Howard Schwartz. “Warning signs of a potentially phony operation include ‘time limited’ offers and other high-pressure sales tactics that require an immediate decision. It’s crucial people don’t let themselves be pressured into signing any contract or making a decision without having time to do their research.” With door-to-door sales, a legitimate seller will provide proper identification, contact information, promotional documents and contracts, and allow you time to think about a commitment. “We encourage people to first check out the company with us, to research its marketplace track record and see if there have been any complaints,” says Schwartz. “Be careful about giving out credit card information to an unsolicited salesperson at your door or over the telephone,” Schwartz says. “You should verify their identity and the reputation of the magazine distribution company.” For more information visit www.bbb.org or call (203) 269-2700. Staff writer New Britian Herald newbritainherald.com New Britain, Connecticut Read This Story |
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Five more arrested for selling magazines without a permit Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Destiny Sales October 9, 2009 Five more arrested for selling magazines without a permit John Hult • jhult@argusleader.com • October 9, 2009 The Argus Leader Five more people were arrested Wednesday selling magazines for two different companies. Police issued six citations for the same crime on Monday and another on Oct. 1, mostly to employees of Destiny Sales. On Wednesday, 25-year-old Michael Jermaine Hambrick of Chicago and 26-year-old Johnny Crosby Jr. of Reidsville, N.C., who both work for Destiny Sales, were arrested after a resident on West 46th Street called police to report suspicious activity, police spokesman Sam Clemens said. Crosby was among the six arrested Monday. Three other sellers, 22-year-old Patrick Jermain Murphy of Rose Hill, N.C., Larry J.R. Burt Jr. of New York and a 17-year-old boy from Webb City, Mo., were arrested after reportedly soliciting customers at Walmart on East Arrowhead Parkway. The men worked for 777, Clemens said. An employee first asked them not to sell magazines in the store, then asked them not to sell in the parking lot. Officers found the trio using a license plate number the employee took down as they left. All the sellers arrested Wednesday had a state sales tax license. But any door-to-door seller also must have a city peddler's permit to operate legally. "If they're going to knock on your door, they need to have a permit," said Rita Munro in the city Finance Office. Peddler's permits are available through the city clerk and must be obtained by any temporary business, according to Munro. There have been 155 issued in 2009 to businesses ranging from ice cream truck drivers to seasonal lawn care sellers, Munro said. To get a permit, the seller must produce a photo ID, a state sales tax license, a $35 application fee and a $1,000 surety bond. The applicant's name is then screened by the Sioux Falls Police Department and returned to the clerk's office. The entire process takes around five days. Jim David, operations director for the Better Business Bureau in Sioux Falls, said having no license is a red flag. He also urged buyers to check their receipts. "There should be clear instructions on how to get the refund," David said. Reach John Hult at 331-2301. The Argus Leader argusleader.com Sioux Falls, South Dakota Read This Story |
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State warns about magazine sales Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Fresh Start Opportunities October 9, 2009 State warns about magazine sales The Bellevue Reporter pnwlocalnews.com Oct 09 2009, 11:04 AM pnwlocalnews.com Bellevue, Washington Read This Story |
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Door-to-door sales on upswing in Lawrence October 7, 2009 Door-to-door sales on upswing in Lawrence The Lawrence Journal-World Archive for Wednesday, October 7, 2009 They want to clean his gutters, clean his carpets, clean his car, sell him non-toxic eco-friendly house cleaner — and they'll pull any stunt to make a sale. "I'm not sure what's going on, but there has been kind of a rush of door-to-door sales people that have come by my house," said Kary. Police said there are multiple reports of Lawrence residents being hassled and annoyed by door-to-door solicitors recently, sometimes at odd hours of the night. Spokesman Sgt. Bill Cory said van loads of young adults are being brought to town and dropped off to "work a neighborhood" for the day. After selling magazine subscriptions all day, the group's off to the next town. Then there's the guy driving around town, knocking on people's doors and asking them to buy meat from the back of his pickup truck. Officers say there's absolutely nothing wrong with these peddlers, as long as they obey city laws. That's the problem, Cory said. Not all are. Anyone selling products door-to-door must purchase a $25 solicitor's license from the city clerk's office at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St. Cory said some folks are selling without one, a crime that can land violators in jail. "The city has a right and really needs to know who’s coming and who’s going from their town, selling things door-to-door," said Cory. When issuing a license, the city collects the person's name, information about what they're selling, sales tax number and even snaps the applicant's picture and fingerprints. Police are also getting several calls about the salespeople being too aggressive and pushy. Cory said if they cross the line, solicitors can be arrested for crimes such as deception or disturbing the peace. If they do have a city license, it can also be revoked. "If they are forceful, if they are rude, if they're trying to sell you one thing and then turn around and give you something else," he said. "Police can act on those." Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson has said some salespeople are scamming residents, through price gouging, phony claims and failing to deliver products. In August, Branson said a Lawrence woman was issued a receipt by a salesperson who claimed to be raising money for a children's hospital. The transaction was fraudulent. So far this year, the city’s sold 162 permits, compared to 146 in all of last year. More like this Solicitor arrested for selling without license 18 comments / July 8, 2006 Aggressive solicitor has license pulled August 14, 2005 POLICE TARGET UNLICENSED SOLICITORS June 2, 1992 D.A. issues alert on door-to-door sales 6 comments / July 14, 2009 SOUND OFF August 11, 1995 www2.ljworld.com Lawrence, Kansas Read This Story |
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Eight charged with soliciting without permit October 6, 2009 Eight charged with soliciting without permit By KAREN DAILY Staff writer Aiken Standard 10/6/2009 7:46 PM  In just a short period of time Monday evening, Aiken Public Safety received five complaints from residents bothered by a group of men and women going door-to-door attempting to sell residents cleaning products and, at times, becoming overly aggressive and refusing to leave. Police arrested six men and two women for soliciting without a permit. The City of Aiken requires door-to-door salespersons to have a business license and a peddler's permit before making sales. The business license can be applied for at City Hall and the permit at Aiken Public Safety. Aiken officers said they warned the group's organizer, Randy A. Sims, 20, multiple times that selling door-to-door without the proper permits and licensing is illegal and even explained to him what he needed to do. But Public Safety Sgt. Aaron Dowdy said Sims failed to apply for the proper paperwork and still continued with the door-to-door sales. "He was fully aware of the law and ignored it," Dowdy said. One of the women working in the group was issued a citation last week, police said. Shawntaria E. Jones, 33, was also charged Monday with Sims and others accused of making sales. Martha K. Russell, 25, Michael Williams, 19, Lawasa Wilder, 37, Raymond Ross, 30, Hilton Washington, 20, and Odell Hogan, 23, were also jailed for solicitation without a permit. Some of the residents who complained told police one of the women had been "very assertive," adding that she wouldn't leave, despite having been asked repeatedly to do so. The group had been traveling in a gray van and then each person was going door-to-door, police said. Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com. Staff writer Aiken Standard aikenstandard.com Aiken, South Carolina Read This Story |
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More Salespeople Arrested For Not Having Permits Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Destiny Sales Incorporated, aka: D.S.I. October 6, 2009 More Salespeople Arrested For Not Having Permits KELOLAND TV 10/06/2009 11:34 AM These are the names of those arrested: Johnny Crosby Jr., 26, of Reidsville, North Carolina Mark Anthony Davon Sayles, 18, of Waterloo, Iowa Darrell Rydell Price, 21, of Chicago, Illinois Kendrell Clairence Fuller, 19, of Carpentersville, Illinois Jarrod Chauncey Brehon, 27, of Dayton, Ohio Alexis L. Baker, 20, of San Diego, California keloland.com Sioux Falls, South Dakota Read This Story |
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Salespeople Arrested At Gas Station Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Destiny Sales Incorporated, aka: D.S.I. October 6, 2009 Salespeople Arrested At Gas Station Cherlene Richards KELOLAND TV. 10/06/2009 6:17 PM  KELOLAND TV. keloland.com Sioux Falls, South Dakota Read This Story |
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SF Woman Warns Of Door-To-Door Salespeople Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Destiny Sales Incorporated, aka: D.S.I. October 5, 2009 SF Woman Warns Of Door-To-Door Salespeople Cherlene Richards KELOLAND TV. 10/05/2009 5:56 PM One Sioux Falls resident says a very convincing saleswoman knocked on her door last week. But after signing up and handing over the check, Emilee Brasell felt that something just wasn't right. "She had a great story, a great personality. She was just good, and I fell for it,” Brasell said. Brasell says a nice, talkative young woman knocked on her door, asking her to subscribe to some magazines. After hearing the pitch for more than an hour, Brasell decided to buy. "I picked 4 and the total was over $300. At first, I can't do that, that's too much for magazines,” Brasell said. So, Brasell told her to cut out two; the total was now just under $200. “I just didn't feel good about it, but she was in my house, I was ready for her to leave. I didn't know what else to do,” Brasell said. But Brasell did do something. "I called police, I called my neighbors and I had them call their banks, which is what my bank advised me to do,” Brasell said. She tried calling the number on the receipt and locating the company, Destiny Sales Incorporated or D.S.I, online. When that didn't get her anywhere, she took action. "I got in the car, just drove around for a little bit and I saw her. Called the police and told them where she was,” Brasell said. As a result, 30-year-old Elisia Andrews from Mansfield, Ohio, was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors. But the concerned calls didn't stop there. On Thursday, Raquel Belcher of Seattle, Washington, was arrested for selling subscriptions door-to-door without the proper paperwork. "If they are selling with the proper licenses, I don't see a problem with it, but if they're not, they should be punished. That's not fair to the citizens and the other business owners who are paying the taxes they're supposed to pay,” Brasell said. Police say all three people arrested work for the same company, Destiny Sales Incorporated. The company could face felony charges if its agents continue to sell without licenses. KELOLAND TV. keloland.com Sioux Falls, South Dakota Read This Story |
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Better Business Bureau warns of magazine salespeople Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Fresh Start Opportunities October 5, 2009 Better Business Bureau warns of magazine salespeople KNDU TV kndo.com Posted: Oct 5, 2009 08:18 PM CDT Updated: Oct 5, 2009 09:21 PM CDT kndo.com Kennewick, Washington Read This Story |
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Salesman Charged With Disorderly Conduct October 5, 2009 Salesman Charged With Disorderly Conduct Posted by Jim Herrin at 7:14 PM The Scoop with Jim Herrin Monday, October 5, 2009 The Scoop with Jim Herrin jimherrin.blogspot.com Cookeville, Tennessee Read This Story |
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State warns of magazine scam, again Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Fresh Start Opportunities October 5, 2009 State warns of magazine scam, again BULLETIN: Door-to-door solicitors have returned to area, says attorney general BY JOHN BRANTON | The (Vancouver, Wash.) Columbian • Published October 05, 2009 The Olympian “Have you ever wondered why so many young adults these days dont make it very far in life? … We believe that everyone deserves a second chance and a opportunity.” The group, which sends young people door-to-door selling magazines, is a nationwide scam, according to bulletin released Friday by Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna. His office issued a warning about the group in March. Nonetheless, the bulletin said, the group’s salespeople are once again operating in Washington and deceiving customers by claiming to be earning money for college, to be giving their proceeds to help homeless youths and other tales. Consumers have paid $50 to $784 for subscriptions, the bulletin said. The game-stopper: “After paying generous amounts for subscriptions, consumers throughout the country never received the magazines and have no idea how their money was spent,” McKenna said. A 19-year-old man working for Fresh Start Opportunities was arrested last fall in connection with an Edmonds robbery and was a suspect in burglaries in Sammamish and Tumwater, the bulletin said. McKenna cited several other problems with Fresh Start: • Inquiries from the Secretary of State’s Office about the group’s failure to register as a charity have been ignored, as have consumer complaints received by McKenna’s office and the Better Business Bureau. • Because the group lists a downtown Seattle address on its Web site, McKenna’s office has received complaints from customers across the United States. “But it’s just a mail-forwarding service,” the bulletin said, going on to describe a cunning scheme. “A business scans the letters then sends the files by e-mail to the addressee, believed to be located in another state. So no one from Fresh Start Opportunities ever has to step inside to pick up the mail, such as refund requests.” In addition, the bulletin said, the Web site lists a toll-free number. Call 1-866-496-8118 and you’ll likely hear it’s “temporarily unavailable,” as The Columbian confirmed. On the group’s Web site, a Q-and-A section asks how long it takes before folks who buy subscriptions get their magazines. “It nomally takes 60-90 days but however we ask that you allow 90-120 days.” Four months to get a magazine? Folks who’d like to donate to a charity are advised to check the Secretary of State’s Web site, using the exact name of the group, at secstate.wa.gov/charities. Visitors can see if the group is properly registered as a charity, as required by law. The site also shows what percentage of total revenue the group says goes to the charitable purpose, called program services, and what percentage goes for overhead. It’s often surprising how little of one’s donations goes to the charitable purpose, if there actually is one. The Olympian theolympian.com Olympia, Washington Read This Story |
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“Fresh Start Opportunities” reeks of scam Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Fresh Start Opportunities October 2, 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “Fresh Start Opportunities” reeks of scam Door-to-door solicitor is back in the Northwest Washington State Office of the Attorney General October 02, 2009 Fresh Start Opportunities claims to be a “job business training company” that sends young adults door to door to give them a “fresh start” on life. The organization has ignored repeated inquiries from the Secretary of State’s Office concerning its failure to register as a charity, as well as consumer complaints received by the Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau. “After paying generous amounts for subscriptions, consumers throughout the country never received the magazines and have no idea how their money was spent,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna. The AGO has received complaints from consumers who paid $50 to $784 for subscriptions. A common theme among the complainants is that they were touched by the solicitors’ stories. They said solicitors claimed to be earning money for college, working toward a better job, receiving points for a free trip, or contributing proceeds to help homeless youth. Consumers paid for subscriptions by check. The Attorney General’s Office has received complaints from consumers nationwide because the company lists a downtown Seattle address on its Web site. But it’s just a mail-forwarding service. A business scans the letters then sends the files by e-mail to the addressee, believed to be located in another state. So no one from Fresh Start Opportunities ever has to step inside to pick up the mail, such as refund requests. The Web site also lists a toll-free phone number. When called, an automatic message says the number is “temporarily unavailable.” A 19-year-old man working for Fresh Start Opportunities was arrested last fall in connection with an Edmonds robbery and was a suspect in burglaries in Sammamish and Tumwater. A state search engine listing registered charities is available at www.secstate.wa.gov/charities. ---------------------------- Media Contact: Kristin Alexander, Media Relations Manager - Seattle, (206) 464-6432, kalexander@atg.wa.gov atg.wa.gov Seattle, Washington Read This Story |
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Magazine peddler charged after resident calls police Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Destiny Sales Inc October 1, 2009 Magazine peddler charged after resident calls police Josh Verges • jverges@argusleader.com • October 1, 2009 Argus Leader Argus Leader argusleader.com Sioux Falls, South Dakota Read This Story |
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Sheriff's Dept. warns of fundraiser scam October 1, 2009 Sheriff's Dept. warns of fundraiser scam Oct. 1, 2009 NORTH LIBERTY LEADER northlibertyleader.com North Liberty, Iowa Read This Story |
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How to How to Handle Traveling Magazine Sales Crews How to How to Handle Traveling Magazine Sales Crews Contributor By Barb Nefer ehow.com Recognizing the Sales Crews Step 1 When someone comes to your door claiming to be a neighbor or local student, make them verify their claims. If they claim to be from a local school, ask for their teacher's name and other information. If they claim to be home-schooled, ask for their address and parents' phone number. If they provide vague information, it's a red flag. If they won't give the information, say "I'm not interested" and end the conversation. Step 2 Don't let the salesperson into your home. Sales crew members are good at working their way in the door by using flattery or asking if they can use the bathroom or have a drink of water. Don't feel bad for saying no. You are under no obligation to let a stranger into your home, and you could endanger yourself by doing so. At best, it adds to the pressure to buy. At worst, you could be setting yourself up for criminal activity. Step 3 Know your local door-to-door solicitation laws. In most municipalities, it is either illegal or requires a permit, which magazine crews rarely have. If a salesperson pressures you, tell them that you are reporting them to the police. Tips & Warnings If you buy a magazine subscription from a traveling sales crew, even in the rare case that you actually receive your magazines, you'll still have overpaid for the subscription. In addition to the already inflated price, they add on a "service charge." If you're really interested in a magazine, order your subscription from a legitimate company. Loss of money is not the only risk you could face from traveling magazine sales crews. There have been instances of rape, robbery, assault and even murder. Use the same caution with these salespeople as you would with any other stranger at your door. Don't be caught off guard because of their claims to be neighbors or local students. By Barb Nefer ehow.com Read This Story |
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When magazine subscriptions attack Septemmber 30, 2009 When magazine subscriptions attack Geoff Williams walletpop.com Sep 30th 2009 at 2:00PM Filed under: Extracurriculars, Ripoffs and Scams Well, television consumer reporter John Matarese, very well known in my neck of the woods (Cincinnati, Ohio) for looking after the little guy -- has an interesting report about how collections letters from magazines are becoming increasingly common. Nice guy, too. As a former features writer for the now-defunct Cincinnati Post, I used to run into Matarese, who works for ABC's Channel 2, downtown occasionally. But I digress. Matarese interviewed a Cincinnati man, Matthew Roberson, who received a letter saying he owed $61.92. Roberson was puzzled, certain he hadn't ordered any magazines, and so he contacted Publishers Clearing House, only to learn that a Reader's Digest subscription of his, which had been a gift from his mother-in-law, had lapsed, and he didn't renew it -- hence, the stern letter making it sound like he owed them money. Roberson didn't feel he owed anything else, and to PCH's credit, they did close his account and agreed to stop sending letters. And Matarese himself notes that he recently received a letter from Hearst magazines after he left his subscription lapse to SmartMoney. Letters stating that you've let your subscription lapse is one thing -- perfectly reasonable, I think most people would agree -- but a letter that comes from a "collection manager" about your "delinquent account," as happened with Matarese, it's pretty maddening. Not that this is that new of a development. I think just about everyone encounters this sort of thing, and have for years, and it got me to thinking... How magazines collect their money might be even more of a problem than the influence of the Internet. Certainly, giving away your magazine articles online does make a reader pause and think, "Why should I pay for a print version of the same thing?" But unless you have a Kindle or an equivalent reading device, it's still not easy to curl up in a chair or sprawl out on a bed and read a magazine online the way you can with a print magazine. The reasons may be diminishing, but there are reasons why people would still want to subscribe to a glossy, paper, non-digital magazine. But when you think you're going to be trapped, paying for a magazine indefinitely, and punished if you decide to opt out for a few months or a year, why not stop subscribing altogether? That's why I subscribe to fewer and fewer magazines these days, and I'm a long-time magazine writer. In fact, my entire career has been built on writing for magazines, although I've diversified in the last decade. And it's not just the way magazines collect their money from their current customers that's a problem. The industry isn't being helped by the way new magazine subscribers are being recruited. For years, there have been people knocking on doors, selling magazine subscriptions. That may have worked out fine in 1950 when we all knew our neighbors and spent a lot of time hanging out on our front porch, anyway. It's not such a great idea in 2009 when we're all more than a little leery about strangers. We're also trying to save more money than we used to, and most of the people doing the selling are teenagers, saying that they're trying to raise money for college or whatever. The prices are always inflated, at least they have been during my experiences, when I used to give door-to-door magazine salespeople the time of day. But, like many people, I suspect, I paid, figuring I was doing a good deed. But even if you don't mind helping some affable, enterprising teenager out, it's almost impossible not to wonder if you're going to be scammed in the process. There have been plenty of magazine scams to come out of the shadows over the years, and in fact, WalletPop's Mitch Lipka wrote about this issue earlier this year. The atmosphere for a good, reputable magazine seller has been poisoned. For instance, earlier this week, the sheriff's office in Spartanburg, S.C., released a warning to people saying that the community has had a lot of groups of young adults being dropped off and going door to door, selling magazine subscriptions. The office couldn't say for sure if the young salespeople were legit or not -- they just advised people not to buy from them. That's the type of environment the magazine industry finds itself in. And you can't blame the sheriff's office for being wary. The Times Herald in Port Huron, Mich., just put out a story with the headline: Magazine salesman raped me. It was a hot day when a 44-year-old woman invited the salesman into her air-conditioned home, and, well, the headline explains what happened. A few other products and services, like lawn care, have people selling their wares door-to-door, but it's become increasingly uncommon, and maybe there's a reason for that. Like, you antagonize more people than you bring aboard. Really, it's just time for the magazine industry to find another way to sell magazines -- and if the customer wants out, let them go without a hassle. As the hackneyed saying goes, if you love something, set it free. Let a magazine reader leave without them worrying how departing will affect their credit score, and when they miss curling up in a chair with their favorite magazine, you never know... they just might come back. Geoff Williams has been writing for magazines since 1992. He is also the author of C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race: The True Story of the 1928 Coast-to-Coast Run Across America (Rodale). walletpop.com Read This Story |
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Woman: Magazine salesman raped me September 30, 2009 Woman: Magazine salesman raped me Suspect bound over on 2 counts of sexual assault By LIZ SHEPARD Times Herald • September 30, 2009 Toney Lamont McRae was bound over to circuit court Tuesday on two counts of criminal sexual conduct third degree. Police said McRae, 43, of North Carolina raped a woman in her home Sept. 18 in the 1400 block of Kearney Street, Port Huron. The 44-year-old woman testified during a preliminary examination Tuesday morning in front of District Court Judge John Monaghan. The woman said she was alone in her home when McRae knocked on her door selling magazine subscriptions. She testified she invited him in after he showed her identification because her air conditioning was on and she wanted to keep the cool air inside. McRae told her he recently had been released from prison and was working for the magazine company as part of his probation or restitution, she said. The woman said she started feeling "edgy" when McRae got up and was looking around her home. She said after she started feeling uncomfortable she was going to call the police to either have them come over or verify the business he was working for was legitimate but her landline phone wasn't charged. The woman said she also asked him to leave, which he wouldn't do. The woman said she then heard her cell phone ring in her bedroom. She said she is bound to a wheelchair because of a traffic crash but is capable of walking while holding onto the dresser in her bedroom. She testified her chair doesn't fit into the room and as she was trying to grab her cell phone, which she dropped, McRae pushed her onto her bed and raped her. "I was traumatized. ... I said, 'No I don't want to do this,'" she said. "That day changed me for life, and I'm petrified, and I don't think it's right for anyone to go through this." The woman testified McRae told her to stay quiet about the incident. "His last words -- and I'll never forget -- were 'Thank you and God bless you,'" she said. The woman said she was too shaken to go directly to the hospital but did about 5:45 p.m. where she saw Port Huron police officers and reported the incident. During cross examination Joe Kanan, McRae's defense attorney, questioned why the woman would leave her cell phone in an area where it is difficult to access and why she would put her identification badge for Port Huron Hospital -- where she volunteers -- on before going to report the rape. The woman said she left her cell phone with her ID badge on her dresser and she wore the badge because "whenever I go to the hospital I put it on." After the woman's testimony, Monaghan bound McRae over on two counts of criminal sexual conduct third degree. Senior Assistant Prosecutor Mona Armstrong said the charge was decreased from criminal sexual conduct first degree because there was no personal injury found in the case. An added count of criminal sexual conduct third degree was added because there also was digital penetration, she said. Bond was continued at $100,000. Times Herald thetimesherald.com Port Huron, Michigan Read This Story |
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September 22, 2009 DMPG research into the above crime: Port Huron Police Case Number: 09-4540 Sales Crew: Editor and Chief Review Magazine Clearinghouse: Fidelity Reader Service Owner: Belo Kellam Website: http://www.frsnaples.com Fidelity Reader Service is a member of the National Field Selling Association http://www.nfsa.com Google Search Fidelity Reader Service Google Search Belo Kellam Research crimes commited by Fidelity Reader Service Note: The DMPG collects information from various sources: police reports, court documents, media articles, and secretary of state websites. The DMPG is not responsible for inaccurate data in any of the above sources of information. Various company websites change over a period of time. Information and Links also change. The DMPG cannot control this and for this reason cannot guarantee 100% accuracty of data. If you have a question or find an error on this website please contact the DMPG WebMaster: WebMaster ~or~ read the DMPG disclaimer: DMPG Disclaimer |
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UPDATE: Brookfield residents, be on the lookout, call police September 30, 2009 UPDATE: Brookfield residents, be on the lookout, call police By Kyle Prast BrookField Now Community Blog Sept. 30, 2009 Last Saturday, I received an email alert concerning suspicious door to door salesmen in the Weston Hills subdivision on the southwest side of Brookfield. This was the second time these salesmen had come to that neighborhood. Evidently, the (Town) police were patrolling and looking for an older blue van with men selling cleaning products at dusk on Friday. The salesmen were going door to door, being rude, and asking odd questions like, "Can you tell me where the cool people in the neighborhood are?" They also asked for a bottle of water and got angry when the homeowner said they didn't have any. Just so you know, the men were in their early 20s and were NOT ethnic minorities. I called the City of Brookfield police number on Saturday to find out if there were other complaints. The woman who answered the phone at the office said she had not heard of any, but that I should call the Community Officer on Monday. On Monday, I spoke to Lt. Mark Millard, Brookfield's Community Officer and asked him about the odd behavior of those door to door salesmen in Weston Hills. He said he hadn't heard about it. I said that since Brookfield changed to the combined dispatch in Waukesha, I found I was less likely to report or call to ask about suspicious behavior. He said that others felt much the same but Brookfield police do want to know about ANYTHING suspicious going on in our city. He urged that we should not hesitate to call them. But who do we call? For an emergency, of course, call 911. A 911 call would be for a situation that you would want a response from a squad and/or ambulance with the lights and siren on, such as a gas line rupture, robbery in progress, bad car accident that needs EMT services, or health emergencies. If it is an less acute (my words) emergency or something is going on at the moment that needs an officer, call the Waukesha County Communications Center (Send Officer) line: 262-787-3700. If that is busy, try 262-446-5070. This is the combined dispatch number and the call goes to the Waukesha office. If it is an inquiry or just reporting something generally suspicious that happened (like my call), call Lt. Millard on his land line at 262-787-3623 and leave a message for him to call you back. (Sorry, I had to remove Lt. Millard's cell phone number. If you need administrative assistance to see if your accident report was filed or how do you pay a ticket, call Brookfield's Administration or Clerical phone line at 262-787-3701 or 3702. Lt. Millard informed me that any door to door salesmen in Brookfield must be licensed. Salesmen must conduct their business during daylight hours. Once it is dark, they are not allowed to solicit. Beware of anyone asking for water or something to eat. Often the homeowner will leave the door and go fetch the requested item. Sometimes, unscrupulous salesmen who are really there for other purposes, will barge in and rob the homeowner. The Lieutenant related a case where someone portrayed themselves as a WE Energies employee, asked to come in, and then stole from the older woman! Sometimes door to door salesmen, who are really after something else, will ask to use your phone or say their car broke down, could they use your phone? Lt. Millard gave me a great answer to those requests. If asked if they can come in, reply: "It looks like you are in need. Let me call the Brookfield police for you, they will help you." You could suggest they just wait in their car until the officer arrives. If they ask to use your bathroom, know where the nearest gas station or place with a public restroom is and direct them to it. Any legitimate salesman would never ask for a snack, soda, or to use your bathroom! They also would not get angry if you didn't know where the cool people lived or give them a bottle of water. It turns out that the men in the blue van were licensed by the Town of Brookfield. (The senders of the email warning did speak with the police later.) But even if they are licensed, if solicitors are acting suspiciously, report them! Lt. Millard told me of one group that used to sell door to door some time ago. Although they did not commit any crimes at the time, the police noticed a rash of break ins after their visits to certain neighborhoods. They weren't selling; they were casing the homes! Their permits were revoked. What can you do? I would say, report anything you find suspicious. Just like there is no rule that says you have to answer the phone, you don't have to answer the door either! Instruct children not to open the door for anyone. Don't open the door to anyone you don't know if you are alone. If there is a window nearby, open it to speak to the solicitors. If you do open your door, keep your screen door locked--at least it will slow them down. Keep your home well lit at night. (I have heard burglars hate a light left on in a bathroom because someone could be in there for quite some time!) The police can't be everywhere; they depend on resident's reports. Don't be afraid to call them if you need to speak to them. BrookField Now Community Blog brookfieldnow.com Brookfield, Wisconsin Read This Story |
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Stoughton Police warn of workman scam September 30, 2009 Stoughton Journal By Kate Sullivan Foley Wicked Local Stoughton Wed Sep 30, 2009, 06:05 PM EDT An on-going scam that hit last spring appears to be back in Canton, Stoughton and other area towns, including Milton and Wellesley. Police are warning residents, especially the elderly and those who don’t speak English, to be wary of any workman who tries to get them to step outside their home with him. In a typical scam case, the man identifies himself as someone working at a neighbor’s house. In most cases, the man states he is working on a fence, cutting down trees or checking the water pressure. The man tells the resident he wants to be sure he is not negatively impacting his home through his work. For example, in one bogus case, the man wanted the resident to come outside to verify the property line so a fence could be installed within the right boundaries. “They gain your confidence and trust by making you think they are looking out for your best interests,” Canton Police Detective Eric Wade said. Once the man gets the resident out to the backyard, he accepts a phone call on his cell phone. He indicates to the person on the other line that everything is OK. “Basically he is confirming that the homeowner is occupied outside and it is safe for the partner to enter the home,” Wade said. The partner enters the home quickly and grabs small valuables, like cash, jewelry, checkbooks, credit cards and coin collections. Wade said the men committing these crimes have been identified as part of a much larger “gypsy” group that targets victims up and down the East Coast. The detective said there are as many as 40 men involved in the scam. In recent months, Canton Police investigated one incident where the scammers were successful and one where the resident did not allow the scammers inside the home. Stoughton Police Sgt. Vitaly Gurevich said the latest case in Stoughton took place on Meadowbrook Lane last Thursday afternoon. The resident reported that the men said they were from the oil company and needed to check the meter. During the scam, the resident had jewelry stolen. Police were not able to get physical descriptions of the suspects but did learn they were driving a white van. Prior to Thursday’s incident, the last case in Stoughton happened over the summer on Turnpike Street. All of the cases have taken place during daytime hours and have involved elderly residents or residents who do not speak English. Police in both towns said residents should call if they feel a workman is suspicious. “Do not go outside with them…call police right away,” Wade said. If possible, he said, try to get a vehicle description and license plate number. If the men are turned away, they may head to another neighborhood and the information might help police locate them and stop them. A Canton resident alerted police over the summer when a van pulled in and out of driveways in the Cedarcrest Road area. Officers located the van and identified the two men as members of the “gypsy” group. No arrests were made because the men were stopped before a crime was attempted. A second scam has also has been taking place in recent weeks in Canton and has occurred in the past in Stoughton. Teens usually ages 17, 18 or 19 run the scams, police said. The teenagers say they live in the town and are selling magazines to support their school. In fact, the teenagers work for a company called Quality Subscription Incorporated. “It is a valid company, but their practices are very shady…their sale tactics can get pretty aggressive,” Wade said. In several cases, the teens pushed residents to pay for other services, like washing windows and sweeping stairs. The scammer, who says he will return to do the work, gets the homeowner to make out one check for the magazines and the services. “They don’t follow through on anything,” Wade said. Police are advising residents to call if they are solicited to purchase magazines by teens they don’t recognize. Any organization planning to solicit residents is required to register with a police department, officials said. The organizations usually are required to provide a list of the names of the persons who will be doing the soliciting and the areas in which they will be soliciting. Stoughton Police Executive Officer Rob Devine encourages residents to report anything suspicious. “It is better to call and have it checked out then to not call us and get victimized,” Devine said. By Kate Sullivan Foley Wicked Local Stoughton wickedlocal.com Raynham, Massachusetts Read This Story |
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Apartment entered by unknown person September 28, 2009 Apartment entered by unknown person Chesterton Tribune Posted 9/28/2009 Posted 9/28/2009 chestertontribune.com Chesterton, Indiana Read This Story |
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Door-to-door magazine sales get closer look September 28, 2009 Door-to-door magazine sales get closer look By Meredith Rodriguez McClatchy Newspapers Orlando Sentinel 8:51 a.m. EDT, September 28, 2009 "She said they were making money to help put themselves through school, to get a better job and support their family," the Olathe, Kan., woman said. Lund handed over a $75 check for three years of Seventeen magazine. Weeks later, she had nothing but a growing suspicion that she had been ripped off. National watchdog groups say Lund and others have opened their doors to a largely unregulated industry where unscrupulous operators can flourish. Though some companies are legitimate, experts say, others can get away with defrauding customers and victimizing young salespeople, too. Consumer and parent groups are calling for tougher laws. The Better Business Bureau says it has received more than 11,000 similar complaints this year against 50 magazine sales companies. Parent Watch, a nonprofit that has helped young people who run into trouble with subscriptions, estimates that 35,000 to 50,000 young people are selling magazines on any given day. "Its big defect is that it targets youth, and youth are too easily manipulated," said Earlene Williams of Parent Watch. "You're talking about migrant workers here." It's unclear if the crews have any connection with the publishers. In some cases, bogus subscriptions are sold without the publisher's knowledge. Watchdog groups suspect some publishers are silently complicit with the arrangement. A spokesman for the Magazine Publishers of America would not answer questions but issued a statement saying that the group has "long urged" its members to stop doing business with any company that does not comply with the law. He said only a small percent of subscriptions are sold door to door. For five years, the National Consumers League has listed magazine door-to-door sales among the worst teen jobs. For Malinda Turvey, it was deadly. Ten years ago, the 18-year-old from Wisconsin turned to a magazine sales company to raise money for cosmetology school. Two days into her new job, Turvey and six other crew members died in a van that crashed in Wisconsin. Authorities said the van, carrying 14 salespeople ages 15 to 25, flipped as its driver tried to switch seats with a passenger as a squad car approached. The driver, who did not have a valid license, went to prison for vehicular homicide. Since, Turvey's father, Phil Ellenbecker, has been pushing for stricter enforcement against door-to-door magazine crews. This year, Wisconsin passed a tougher law that takes effect next April. The law requires crews to register with the state's labor department and to post $10,000 bond. Their vans must be checked by the state. Everyone on a crew must clear criminal background checks. "The bill is so powerful, and it is the only one of its kind in the country, that they don't want to come here," said Ellenbecker, who said he has documented 86 deaths and more than 300 felony cases related to door-to-door magazine sales companies. "All the fly-by-night itinerant sales companies that used to come here will not come here." But a Wisconsin state senator who voted against the bill said he saw no evidence that crews were out of control. "Like everything else, there are good actors and bad actors," Sen. Glenn Grothman said. Grothman especially disagrees with one of the strongest provisions of the bill: that crew members must be company employees, not independent contractors. But as contractors, Ellenbecker contends, the salespeople have no rights, no minimum wage, no benefits. And when a worker commits a crime, the company can deny responsibility. "There's a huge crack in the legal system," he said, "and they're walking right down the corridor, and they're getting away with it." Keys to avoiding fraud Be careful about letting any salesperson into your home. Ask for identification. If your city requires itinerant crews to register, ask for proof that has been done. Don't fall for sob stories. High-pressure tactics often signal fraudulent activity. Don't let yourself be hurried or coerced. The seller can stay at your door only at your courtesy. Be wary of sellers who offer cash or discounts for providing the names of friends who might buy their products. If you want to buy, get everything in writing, including price, warranty and all conditions. Say you will check it out and get back to the seller. Don't make any payment hastily, especially for merchandise or services you haven't received. McClatchy Newspapers Orlando Sentinel orlandosentinel.com Orlando, Florida Read This Story Read Full Story |
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Port Barre Scam Alert September 28, 2009 Port Barre Scam Alert KLFY-TV, channel 10 CBS Posted: Sep 28, 2009 06:54 AM CDT klfy.com Lafayette, Louisiana Read This Story |
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Publishers Clearing House: Pay Bill or Get Collection Letter September 28, 2009 Publishers Clearing House: Pay Bill or Get Collection Letter Reported: by John Matarese WMAR - ABC2 abc2news.com Last Update: 9/28 6:00 pm But at least one man has already had a call from the sweepstakes giant .... only it wasn't for good news. Hey, that's not the Prize Patrol! This is what most of us think of when someone says Publishers Clearing House: The Prize Patrol knocking on your door with big winnings. But Matthew Roberson recently got a surprise from PCH...and it didn't come with balloons. In fact, it came in the form of an official collections letter. Matthew told me "I got a letter that asked for $64, saying I owed that. I thought it strange cause I never ordered magazines from the company." But the letter -- from Penn Credit Corporation-- claimed he had ordered two magazines from PCH...totaling 61 dollars and 92 cents. So Matthew called, and learned it may have been a renewal for a Readers Digest subscription he was given as a gift. "Reader's Digest was a gift from my mother in law," he says. He called, and says Publishers Clearing House agreed to close his account, and drop all attempts at collections. Buyer Beware But collection letters from magazines are becoming more common. Hearst magazines-- publisher of Cosmo, Good Housekeeping and others -- recently sent me a letter from their "collection manager" about my "delinquent account"... after I let my subscription lapse to "SmartMoney" magazine. It makes you think your credit score is about a take a huge hit. What to do if it Happens to You If this happens to you, and you get a collections letter regarding magazines, you should not ignore it. They can refer you to a major collections agency like Penn Credit, or others. Instead: Call and tell the company you never ordered their magazine, and that it may have been a mistake or an order someone else placed with your name. If its a renewal notice, tell them you have decided not to renew. In most cases they will drop the charges, as PCH did for Matthew. But Matthew worries that many people -- especially seniors -- would send the money, and renew a subscription they did not want. Do they really Send you to Collections? A Publishers Clearing House spokesman told me the company does contract with the Penn Credit Collections agency. But he says they send an account there only after a year or more of non-payment, and several ignored bills. He doesn't know why Matthew never received any earlier bills, but says had he called to cancel at any point he would not have been referred to collections. Could these collections agencies put a black mark on your credit? Possibly, though since they do not have your Social Security number it would be difficult. But you don't want to find out. The bottom line: Try not to ignore magazine invoices. If you are not interested in a subscription, just call them so you don't end up in collections....and so you don't waste your money. I'm John Matarese. WMAR - ABC2 abc2news.com Baltimore, Maryland Read This Story |
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Selling door to door could get harder September 25, 2009 Selling door to door could get harder Sumter City Council considers tightening rules for peddlers By GINA VASSELLI gvasselli@theitem.com Item Staff Writer The Item Article published: Sep 25, 2009 Kealey, a salesman with Columbia-based Palmetto Alarm, stops the van and jumps out. The man starts walking back toward the house, but Kealey catches him before he gets inside. He hands the man a card and asks if he's interested in an alarm system for his house. The two speak for a few minutes and then make their way into the house. Jackpot. A few minutes later Kealey is back in the van, driving down the street. He makes an appointment to talk later with the man and his wife. "Was he interested?" Mary Stuart, a saleswoman with Palmetto Alarm, asks from the backseat. "He was definitely interested," Kealey says. This is a day in the life of a door-to-door salesman. But a new ordinance Sumter City Council is discussing will make life a bit more difficult for people who sell door to door. The city is revising its peddler's license ordinance to require background checks for the licenses and set up stricter requirements for when and where people are allowed to solicit door to door. And there are several factors to consider, including residents, peddlers, local businesses and the city's business license department. But all of those factions will have a chance to speak at a public hearing for the ordinance on Oct. 6. Fred Chewning, president of Sumter-based Palmetto Security, said he was the one who "started this whole thing rolling." About a year ago, Chewning says he contacted several members of City Council because he had heard about a door-to-door security company trying to sell aggressively to his customers. He says the company hired mostly college students and blanketed the area for about 13 weeks. Peddler's badges cost about $1 apiece. Chewning said the company probably made at least $6 million from its time knocking on doors in Sumter. "These people can come in for a few hundred dollars, stay here for a couple weeks and clean us out," Chewning said. "Business like us have to pay property taxes and all the fees." He said he wants what peddlers have to pay to be at least close to what local businesses have to pay. A draft peddlers ordinance differentiates between local and out-of-town peddlers with a "Class 1" license for locals and a "Class 2" license for out-of-towners, but it does not set up any price differentiation for the peddler's licenses. The ordinance does say the business license department "shall set the annual fee to be charged each calendar year." Kealey and Bill Reynolds, the director of marketing for Utah-based Pinnacle Security, both said they did not mind the security requirements because both companies already do background checks, but both were concerned about the potential for increased fees. "If they try to price it out of the range that we can afford," Reynolds said, that would hurt business. "But if it's still affordable, if it's still within reason," he said, it would be understandable. He said Pinnacle hires mostly college-aged people and opens offices in many states for only about four to six months. Pinnacle bought 19 peddler's badges on June 2, and the badges are good for a year. Kealey said companies that do what he calls "slash and burn" tactics, when they come to an area for a short period of time and sell aggressively, give people like him a bad reputation. "A few bad apples can ruin everything," he said. "I build relationships. I try to be on the up and up, legit." Though Kealey's company is not based in Sumter, he and other representatives travel here a couple times a week, and he has a relationship with several neighborhoods where Palmetto Alarm is the preferred security company. Tamika Ryan lives in one of those neighborhoods and had her security system installed on Tuesday. She said she normally does not like door-to-door solicitors. "That should not say 'Welcome,'" she said, pointing to the mat by her front door. "That should say 'Step Off.'" But she said she was glad when Kealey knocked on her door because she wanted an alarm system. Kealey said he thinks the ordinance should be changed to put tougher restrictions on out-of-state peddlers, rather than out-of-town peddlers. "They can call us" if there's a problem, Kealey said. "We're not that far away." He also suggested restricting the peddler's licenses in the summer, since that is when most people complain about aggressive peddlers. Kealey plans to offer his suggestions at council's public hearing. "If they want to go a little stricter to make sure people are legit, I'm all for that. (Those aggressive companies) are the ones who are spoiling the soup," he said. But he added, "Door to door is how this business is done. We must come out to the house; you can't bring the house to us." WANT TO GO? What: Peddlers Ordinance public hearing When: 6 p.m. Oct. 6 Where: City Council Chambers, fourth floor of the Sumter Opera House, 21 N. Main St. Who: Any member of the public is invited to attend or speak gvasselli@theitem.com Item Staff Writer The Item theitem.com Sumter, South carolina Read This Story |
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Trivedi may end up as a victim in future Door-to-Door Sales Company: Amway September 24, 2009 Trivedi may end up as a victim in future Corporate Frauds Watch Posted by Shyam Sundar at 06:24 Thursday, 24 September 2009 Story by: David Brear David Brear Corporate Frauds Watch Posted by Shyam Sundar at 06:24 corporatefraudswatch.blogspot.com Read This Story |
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Students targeted for scams September 24, 2009 Students targeted for scams By Kaley DeBoer Equinox Staff The Equinox The Student Newspaper OF Keene State College Published: Thursday, September 24, 2009 Updated: Thursday, September 24, 2009 Kaley DeBoer can be contacted at kdeboer@keeneequinox.com. The Equinox The Student Newspaper OF Keene State College keeneequinox.com Keene, New Hampshire Read This Story |
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Sheriff Warns Of Magazine Subscription Scam September 24, 2009 Sheriff Warns Of Magazine Subscription Scam Youth Go Door-To-Door Selling Subscriptions WYFF4.com POSTED: 4:22 pm EDT September 24, 2009 UPDATED: 4:26 pm EDT September 24, 2009 wyff4.com Greenville, South Carolina Read This Story |
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COC does not endorse door-to-door magazine sales September 24, 2009 COC does not endorse door-to-door magazine sales The Signal Source: College of the Canyons POSTED Sept. 24, 2009 11:36 a.m. Source: College of the Canyons the-signal.com Santa Clarita Valley, California Read This Story |
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Cook Children’s issues fraud alert September 23, 2009 Crime and Safety Cook Children’s issues fraud alert Star-Telegram — From staff reports Posted Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2009 — From staff reports — From staff reports star-telegram.com Fort Worth, Texas Read This Story |
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Police advise: Be leery of door-to-door magazine sales Magazine Sales Company: American Circulation Enterprises September 21, 2009 Police advise: Be leery of door-to-door magazine sales By MIke Hixenbaugh Rocky Mount Telegram Monday, September 21, 2009 The magazine group’s leader, Paul Kristian Ferrell, was cited this weekend for soliciting without a permit, a violation of city ordinances. Authorities said Ferrell and 16 other people who work for American Circulation Enterprises have prompted suspicious persons reports in recent weeks, and officers have several times ordered the workers to stop going door-to-door. “We always advice people never to purchase items sold door-to-door,” Capt. Laura Fahnestock said. “I also would be leery of a business that does not go through the proper channels to obtain a permit. In the past with some companies – and I said, some companies – that sell magazines door-to-door, the magazines never come.” Two of the American Circulation Enterprises workers – Jaime Rivera Laureano and Brant Allan Jacobs, both 21 – were charged Saturday for stealing a golf cart from The Course at Northgreen. The two men took the cart, ignoring orders of staff at the golf course, and drove away. Police found the golf cart a few miles away on Dare Court and arrested the two men on Benvenue Road. Laureano and Jacobs allegedly had been using the cart to speed the door-to-door sales process. Both men were charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and jailed under $1,000 bonds. “That sort of behavior raises questions about a business,” Fahnestock said. The Better Business Bureau gave American Circulation Enterprises, based in Michigan City, Ind., a D rating and cited more than 35 official complaints against the business, mostly for charging customers but never delivering a product. Anyone solicited by the group to buy magazines is asked to call Rocky Mount police. Rocky Mount Telegram rockymounttelegram.com Rocky Mount, North Carolina Read This Story |
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Man on probation for home invasion admits to new charges September 21, 2009 Man on probation for home invasion admits to new charges By GREG TUTTLE Of The Gazette Staff | Posted: Monday, September 21, 2009 2:30 pm Billings Gazette Tyson James Heisler, 24, appeared before Judge G. Todd Baugh and admitted to two counts of felony burglary and one count of drug possession. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of obstructing and resisting arrest. Heisler remains in the county jail on a $25,000 bond. Baugh set sentencing for Dec. 14. Heisler was sentenced in 2003 to 10 years in prison with two years suspended for his role in the home invasion robbery of a man on Mount Rushmore Avenue. Heisler and two others posed as magazine salesman and forced their way into the home with a gun. In March, Heisler stole several televisions from a Billings motel. Three months later, when officers approached Heisler at a casino to ask him about the motel thefts, Heisler gave false information. When officers indicated he was under arrest, Heisler attempted to flee, throwing bar stools and running out a back door. He collapsed a short distance later and was apprehended. At the jail, officers found methamphetamine in his shoe. A plea agreement calls for prosecutors to recommend Heisler receive concurrent 5-year suspended prison sentences for the burglary charges and a consecutive 5-year suspended sentence for the drug charge. Posted in Crime-and-courts on Monday, September 21, 2009 2:30 pm | Tags: Tyson James Heisler, Judge G. Todd Baugh, Mount Rushmore Avenue, Methamphetamine, District Court Billings Gazette billingsgazette.com Billings, Montana Read This Story |
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Bylaw aims to help curb solicitors September 21, 2009 Bylaw aims to help curb solicitors By Abby Jordan/Daily News staff MetroWest Daily News Posted Sep 21, 2009 @ 12:00 AM A Special Town Meeting article aims to adopt a bylaw amending regulations on door-to-door sales. Article 9, co-sponsored by interim Police Chief Jane Moran and the Board of Selectmen, asks voters to amend Chapter 133 of the town code so those wishing to solicit would be required to register with police at least seven days prior, and pay a $25 fee. Registration would not be required for town, state or federal employees on official business, for volunteers acting on behalf of charitable organizations, or those with religious or political purposes. Currently, registration is voluntary, with those who choose to do so providing police with their name and license plate number. Police can do a superficial background check, but have no way of knowing if the information provided is correct, Moran said. The article comes in the wake of complaints from residents about solicitors, the chief said, and would give people the comfort of knowing the solicitors who come to their door have been checked out by police. While the article was added to the warrant earlier this month, more recently a handful of residents reported suspected fraud to police on Sept. 9, believing solicitors saying they were raising money for youth baseball equipment and trips were not legitimate. On Sept. 9, police activated a Reverse 911 call to report the scam to residents. So far, a half dozen people have reported giving money to the solicitors, whose identity police do not know, Moran said. She said they may have been selling magazine subscriptions in town as early as April. The solicitors encouraged residents to pay in cash. For those who paid by check, their checks were cashed but they never received their subscriptions. With a new bylaw in place, it is unlikely such a scam could succeed, Moran said. "The intent is to protect the citizens of Southborough to the best of our ability," she said. "It's a lot easier to do that if they are registered." Moran calls Southborough's current code on soliciting weak in comparison to surrounding towns that have implemented tighter restrictions on for-profit door-to-door sales. Because rules aren't tougher, police spend a lot of time fielding calls from residents. "We get a lot of calls from people saying there are solicitors in their neighborhood, and asking if they're registered," Moran said. "It's time-consuming and taxes our resources." If the bylaw passes, solicitors would have to apply for registration, and police would conduct a background check on each person. If a registration card is granted, it must be carried at all times and shown to residents. "Citizens see the ID and are reassured they are law-abiding citizens," Moran said. Registration cards will be issued for specific dates or times, and will not exceed a period of 90 days, and solicitation would only be allowed from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those not in accordance with the bylaw would be fined $25 for each offense. Special Town Meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Trottier Middle School. (Abby Jordan can be reached at 508-490-7461 or ajordan@cnc.com) MetroWest Daily News metrowestdailynews.com Framingham, Massachusetts Read This Story |
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Rape suspect arraigned September 20, 2009 Rape suspect arraigned Times Herald • September 20, 2009 thetimesherald.com  Tony Lamont McRae thetimesherald.com Port Huron, Michigan Read This Story |
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September 22, 2009 DMPG research into the above crime: Port Huron Police Case Number: 09-4540 Sales Crew: Editor and Chief Review Magazine Clearinghouse: Fidelity Reader Service Owner: Belo Kellam Website: http://www.frsnaples.com Fidelity Reader Service is a member of the National Field Selling Association http://www.nfsa.com Google Search Fidelity Reader Service Google Search Belo Kellam Research crimes commited by Fidelity Reader Service Note: The DMPG collects information from various sources: police reports, court documents, media articles, and secretary of state websites. The DMPG is not responsible for inaccurate data in any of the above sources of information. Various company websites change over a period of time. Information and Links also change. The DMPG cannot control this and for this reason cannot guarantee 100% accuracty of data. If you have a question or find an error on this website please contact the DMPG WebMaster: WebMaster ~or~ read the DMPG disclaimer: DMPG Disclaimer |
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Door-to-door alerts: Magazine solicitors show up September 19, 2009 Door-to-door alerts: Magazine solicitors show up From Meg and Melissa: West Seattle Blog ... September 19, 2009 at 4:37 pm | In Door-to-door alert, West Seattle news | From Meg: Half hour ago an African American young woman with the name “Antonio” tattooed on her neck came by our house (in the 3300 block of 49th Ave SW). She was selling magazine subscriptions for a company called D & T Connections and wanted us to do her a personal favor and “give her a hand up” by getting a subscription. She had a lot of personal questions tried to get answered: (what are your names?, what were your first jobs?, what jobs do you do now?, etc.) She spoke rapidly, said she had 3 kids and was trying to get herself straightened out and take care of them properly. My husband showed up about halfway through her schpiel. She kept referencing our nearby neighbors by calling them “Mr. Mike” or “Mr. Steve” or “that guy with the fancy little red car” saying they were all supporting her by buying a bunch of subscriptions. Anyway, she kept flashing a clipboard with a bunch of rumpled papers attached to it, asking us to sign up too. She said she was a neighbor and lived nearby and when I asked where exactly did she live, she got flustered and said she didn’t remember what the street was but she thought the place she was staying was “Western Inn”. Huh? Then she said she really hadn’t lived in this area very long. I asked where she lived before here… she said Colorado. She said she is traveling “all over” with this D & T Connections company. Huh? I asked how her kids could go to school while traveling all over. She said they live in Houston with her mother. She got very flustered b/c the questions caught her off guard, I think. Anyway, I started to conclude that this indeed was a scam and I finally interrupted her by asking if she could leave some information with us so that we could review it more. She said “No, D & T has no printed info to leave with “customers.” I said, “Well, we can’t help you out then”. At that point her demeanor changed and she became hostile and yelled at me for wasting her time. She charged down the sidewalk, yelling at me in a loud voice. And from Melissa: Just thought I’d give another heads up about the magazine sellers. We’re in North Admiral on Walnut Ave - just had a tall, handsome black kid come to the house, wearing a white oxford, blue tie and khaki pants, claiming to be selling magazines. He handed me a rumpled piece of paper and I handed it right back telling him we’re not interested and he suddenly turned rude, saying, “Yeah, NO ONE is interested in magazines.” He then just walked off. I called the cops just to let them know… West Seattle Blog ... westseattleblog.com Seattle, Washington Read More Comments From West Seattle Blog |
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Man selling magazines arrested for CSC September 18, 2009 Man selling magazines arrested for CSC Times Herald thetimesherald.com September 18, 2009 Port Huron Police Sgt. Diana Tramski said a 44-year-old North Carolina man entered a home at around 5:45 p.m. on the 1400 block of Kearney Street when a woman answered the door. Police said the man then raped the woman, who called police and gave a description of the man. Officers found him on foot and arrested him a couple of blocks away. Police said he is being lodged in the St. Clair County jail and will be arraigned Sunday. thetimesherald.com Port Huron, Michigan Read This Story |
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Man suspected of kidnapping, battery released from jail September 18, 2009 Man suspected of kidnapping, battery released from jail The Hutchinson News Friday, September 18, 2009 9 : 39 AM Kyle J. Poppelreiter was arrested last Friday at his home in the 100 block of East Fifth Avenue on suspicion of kidnapping, aggravated battery and aggravated assault. Joshua Schrock, 21, was also arrested on suspicion of criminal restraint. Poppelreiter had called police to his home to take custody of Charles F. Nelson, 24, of Randolph, Vt., whom Poppelreiter accused of stealing a gun and cigarettes from his pickup. When officers arrived, they found Nelson tied to a chair with a broken nose and Poppelreiter allegedly holding a gun to his head, Hutchinson Police Lt. Clay Rothe previously reported. The district attorney's office has temporarily declined to prosecute Poppelreiter because prosecutors are awaiting more information from law enforcement, Senior Assistant District Attorney Stephen Maxwell said. In his first court appearance Monday before Judge Randy McEwen, Poppelreiter said he didn't kidnap Nelson and claimed Schrock was the one who tied up Nelson, who had been selling magazines door-to-door. Poppelreiter on Monday told McEwen he needed his $110,000 bond reduced so he could manage the kitchen at Polo Sports Lounge. Employees at the local lounge, however, reported Poppelreiter was a part-time employee but no longer worked there. Poppelreiter has since been released from Reno County Jail, however, since he is not being prosecuted at this time. hutchnews.com Hutchinson, Kansas Read This Story |
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Abandoned in Minnesota Magazine Sales Company: OK Marketing September 18, 2009 I-Team 10 investigation: Abandoned in Minnesota By: Brett Davidsen WHEC News 10 Posted at: 09/18/2009 3:34 PM | WHEC.com Updated at: 09/18/2009 7:13 PM Raymond Van Voorhies of Rochester is 800 miles from home. He was working for a company, going town to town with a caravan of other young adults, selling magazine subscriptions when he decided he'd had enough. Van Voorhies said, “They basically told us if you're not working with us no more then there's no way for you to get home. We'll leave you stranded." With the company refusing to pay his wages or his way home, he finds himself now stuck in Albert Lea, Minnesota with no money. "I had a stroke. I'm on a fixed income, so I don't have it and it bothers me. I can't send for my son." His mother, here in Rochester, says she's powerless to help. “What kills me is these are kids. They got a promise of travel, that's a dream job."” The company Van Voorhies worked for is called OK Marketing. He started working for them trhee months ago. He hoped it would be the opportunity of a lifetime but he quit after seeing and hearing reports that customers were being scammed. "I thought I was going to be able to make a better way of living and it's not. If I kept going with them, I probably would have ended up in jail somewhere with them." I-Team 10 has discovered the company has an "F" rating with the Better Business Bureau, racking up 142 complaints. On the rip-off report, an on-line consumer watchdog site, there are nearly a dozen complaints from people who claim they never received their magazines and others who say the company wouldn't refund their money. We attempted to reach the owner of OK Marketing, but the voicemail box was full. In the meantime, Van Voorhies has been allowed to stay at the Countryside Inn Motel in Albert Lea in exchange for general housekeeping work. Julie Cincoski, the motel manager said, "I can't offer a lot, but at least they have beds to sleep in. I do have food to offer them. They don't have to be homeless. They don't have to be hungry." Still, Van Voorhies feels worse for customers who trusted him. "I really want to apologize to everybody I sold the magazines to who's not gonna get their subscriptions, the people who's money has been stolen from them, people with bank accounts, I want to apologize to all of them, because I didn't mean for that to happen." I-Team 10 has been working with our sister station in Rochester, Minnesota on this story and there is good news for Van Voorhies. After airing a story there, a business owner who was watching was kind enough to offer to pay for a bus ticket for Van Voorhies. He'll head back to Rochester on Monday. He has been stranded in Minnesota since Monday. For more Rochester, N.Y. news go to our website www.whec.com. WHEC News 10 whec.com Rochester, New York Read This Story |
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Police advise caution with door-to-door sales groups Magazine Sales Company: Southern Marketing Group September 18, 2009 Police advise caution with door-to-door sales groups Several complaints made about magazine sellers posing as WKU journalism students By JUSTIN STORY, The Daily News, jstory@bgdailynews.com/783-3256 Friday, September 18, 2009 12:09 PM CDT The Bowling Green Police Department has received a number of complaints since Tuesday about a group of people who claim to be Western Kentucky University journalism students and attempt to sell subscriptions so they can make money to finance a trip to London. “We’ve gotten some calls and some e-mails about groups using high-pressure sales tactics that may be misrepresenting themselves,” said Officer Barry Pruitt, BGPD spokesman. “I’d never give them cash and I’d be very reluctant to give them a check.” In addition to the door-to-door salesmen posing as WKU students, another group has reportedly been going to residences to sell cleaning supplies, employing similarly aggressive sales tactics. Pruitt said companies that employ door-to-door salespeople do come to the city from time to time, and they must apply through the city for a license to do so. Linda Chambers, manager of the Bowling Green office of the Better Business Bureau, said one of the best things for people to do when they are visited by a door-to-door salesman is to ask for their city-issued license to verify their legitimacy. “Also, ask for their name and the name of the company they’re working for,” Chambers said. The local BBB office has also received complaints this week about people posing as students and selling magazine subscriptions. Chambers said the complaints have been focused on a Tennessee company called Southern Marketing Group. “They have had some complaints made against them (in the past) about people not getting the magazines after they have ordered them,” Chambers said. Those companies often employ teenagers or young adults, bringing a group of them into a city to attempt to make sales. Chambers said the salespeople are sometimes placed in an exploitative environment. “I’ve heard horror stories where they haven’t even gotten to eat,” Chambers said of the door-to-door merchants. “Oftentimes, these young people will just be brought into an area ... the company that has gotten them to do this gets all the money, which may be why some of them are asking for cash.” Still, residents should be wary of the door-to-door marketers and should never let one into their home. “If you get a bad feeling, you politely say you’re not interested and close the door,” Pruitt said. “At no time would I let these people in my house.” bgdailynews.com Bowling Green, Kentucky Read This Story |
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Officials warn students of potential scammers Magazine Sales Clearinghouse: Pacific Coast Clearing Service September 18, 2009 Officials warn students of potential scammers Charley Groth Kirkwood Community College Communiqué Issue date: 9/18/09 Section: News The student, who prefers to remain anonymous, said the "sales" person pushed herself into his Village East apartment and handed him a glossy, official-looking list of magazine subscriptions to choose from. "She said she needed to earn points so that she could get a trip to Hawaii," he said. Wanting to help out this fellow student and wanting her out of his kitchen, he agreed to a subscription of ESPN Magazine, wrote a check and received a sticker for his door, to supposedly alert other magazine "salesmen" of his purchase so they wouldn't bother him. "I felt kinda stupid after she left," said the student. Suspicious, he called a friend to tell him about the experience and found out that the friend, too, had just written a check to the same company, Pacific Coast Clearing Services. With a little digging, they discovered that no one affiliated with Kirkwood was selling magazines and Pacific Coast Clearing Service, based out of Gig Harbor, Wash., has a reputation of popping up all over the country peddling phony or non-existent subscriptions. Though some people tried to call Pacific Coast Clearing Service, they reached a message announcing the office hours and asked the caller to call back later, even though the business should have been open. "I knew it was a scam right away," said Brenda Cooley, a Kirkwood instructor who was notified of the incident by the anonymous student's mother. "This has been a problem for a couple of years." If your trusting Iowan nature insists that you open the door for a stranger, at least keep your eyes open for these telltale signs of a rip-off artist. First, ask for the solicitor's identification and permit. Be wary of someone asking for a donation to benefit an organization or purpose. When the solicitor asks for cash or even offers a reduced price for cash, the conversation should be over. Cooleysaid she thinks Kirkwood could include information about potential scammers in its freshman orientation. She said the apartments around campus could also warn students when they sign the lease. Other scams that college students should be aware of, according to Scambusters.org, are, above all, identity theft. College students can be heavy Internet users and scammers are constantly trolling social networking sites like Facebook collecting data that could be used to steal your identity or put you on lists for later data mining. Since the whole point of these sites is to divulge personal information, only complete social networking abstinence will save you here. Also, beware of scholarship scams. Many services online will charge you a fee to match you up with a scholarship but this is totally unnecessary because scholarship information is available free online at sites like FastWeb.com or FindTuition.com. Along with this, don't respond to offers of student loans. Your first stop should be the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Then, if you need more money, go to a bank or a source that you know is reputable. Luckily, the two students in this story were able to cancel their checks in time, walking away from the experience unscathed monetarily but more weary of the next knock at the door. Kirkwood Community College Communiqué media.www.kirkwoodstudentmedia.com Cedar Rapids, Iowa Read This Story |
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Johnson sheriff not selling magazines through telemarketer September 18, 2009 Johnson sheriff not selling magazines through telemarketer Gazette Communications gazetteonline.com Posted on Sep 18, 2009 by admin. gazetteonline.com Cedar Rapids, Iowa Read This Story |
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Don’t want no stinkin’ magazines Magazine Sales Company: United Subscription Agency September 17, 2009 Don’t want no stinkin’ magazines POLICE LOG Bremerton Patriot Sep 17 2009, 4:24 PM · UPDATED Two men, ages 60 and 70, attempted to detain the 23-year-old man from New Mexico until police arrived. A van with a few people in it then pulled up and a verbal dispute ensued. A homeowner told deputies the man was going door-to-door claiming to sell magazines. There is a “No Soliciting” sign posted at the mobile home park entrance. The man asked one homeowner about her jewelry, looked into her trailer and started to walk around the back of it to comment on her garden. The man told the woman he had permission from the mobile home park manager to sell magazines, but he could not describe the manager. The woman’s 60-year-old husband followed the man and he and the 70-year-old confronted him, asking for identification. He showed them a laminated card stating he worked for the United Subscription Agency, but had a different first name than what he told the woman. The residents told the man he needed to stick around until police arrived and he reached to grab his card back from one of them. The 70-year-old man extended an expandable baton he had in his hand and held it at his shoulder. The van of people pulled up and the 23-year-old jumped in. The 60-year-old man got into a vehicle and blocked the van from leaving the area. Deputies told the group the mobile home park had a “No Soliciting” sign and they agreed not to come back. No arrests were made. pnwlocalnews.com Silverdale, Washington Read This Story |
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Police suggest shutting doors to scamming salesmen September 16, 2009 Police suggest shutting doors to scamming salesmen Door-to-door salesmen must register two weeks in advance or risk getting a $100 fine. Briana Alzola - email the author The Daily Evergreen Published: 09/16/2009 “There are groups who bring people from back east, and they come into town for two or three days and go door-to-door selling magazines,” he said. Management operations major Megan Riley was someone who reported a salesman case. “It was a young guy in his 20s,” she said. “He said it was a point system. It is a popular scam. You can’t do much when they come around, except chase them away.” The individuals in these groups, which have no ties to the town, have traditionally had problems with crime, Tennant said. A city ordinance that was passed because of salesmen problems in the past states that any person selling door-to-door must register 14 days in advance, he said. Tennant said anyone failing to do so will be fined $100. He also said two or three people have been fined already, but the city only knows if people call to report the salesmen showing up at their doors. “We encourage people to call,” he said. “You can ask if they are registered with the city, and if not, just ask them to leave. You can also call to check on the credentials of anyone at your door.” Anyone going door-to-door on university property must also have special permission from the school, WSU Police Lt. Steve Hansen said. “Do not let them in the resident halls,” Hansen said. Hansen said if students want to talk to the salesmen who comes to their door, they can, but they should be wary. “You should always look at what kind of deal you are getting,” he said. “And as with anybody else, if you are not comfortable, do not let them in. Just have the conversation at the door.” Tennant said that, though similar salesmen groups in the past usually stay in town for a few days, the scam should be considered a warning for all residents, he said. “It is really buyer beware,” he said. “Whether it is on the Internet, telephone or door-to-door, you just have to be careful.” Riley reminded students that these scammers were present, and they could be stopping by their houses next. “Remember – they’re out there. Don’t buy from them,” she said. - email the author The Daily Evergreen Pullman, Washington Read This Story |
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Police warn of possible magazine sales scam Magazine Sales Company: United Circulation September 14, 2009 Police warn of possible magazine sales scam The Courier-Journal • September 14, 2009 courier-journal.com Louisville, Kentucky Read This Story |
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Don't allow crooks like Amway to loot your country Door-to-Door Sales Company: Amway September 13, 2009 Don't allow crooks like Amway to loot your country Sunday, 13 September 2009 Posted by Shyam Sundar at 22:33 Corporate Frauds Watch Posted by Shyam Sundar at 22:33 Corporate Frauds Watch corporatefraudswatch.blogspot.com Read This Story |
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A.F. rape case delayed as officials argue suspect's placement September 10, 2009 A.F. rape case delayed as officials argue suspect's placement Janice Peterson - Daily Herald | Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:05 am  Brian Mask Despite a judge's ruling that Brian Mask is incompetent due to mental retardation, officials with the Department of Human Services say Mask cannot be treated by the department because he is not mentally retarded. "The department has determined that Mr. Mask has a learning disability, which could be misdiagnosed and mislabeled as mental retardation, due to its severity as expressed in this case," wrote the department's attorney in the case, Stephen Mikita. Mask, a Chicago native, was arrested last August after he allegedly beat and raped an American Fork woman in her home. Mask was declared incompetent by Judge James Taylor in May and ordered into the custody of the Department of Human Services in order to try and restore him to competency. Although two of three evaluators have previously determined Mask is incompetent to proceed at this time, the department filed a motion asking the judge to review the order because it does not have the services to support someone like Mask. Mikita argued in the motion that Mask does not have mental retardation, but rather borderline intellectual functioning and a learning disability. The Utah State Hospital cannot take Mask if he does not have a mental illness, and the Utah State Development Center cannot take him without a diagnosis of mental retardation. "In fact, the Department of Human Services would violate Utah law, not to mention Federal law, if it were to place Mr. Mask in a DPSD residential facility, involuntarily commit him to the USDC, or involuntarily commit him to the Utah State Hospital, Mikita wrote." The department relied on the findings from evaluators who first found Mask incompetent, as well as its own analysis from Steve Wrigley, who is a qualified mental retardation evaluator with the department. Wrigley evaluated Mask at the Utah County Jail and determined Mask has difficulty comprehending things he has not experienced, due to drug use and a learning disability. "It also appears that Mr. Mask's long-term drug and alcohol use, beginning at the age of 10, has impacted his overall cognitive ability," Mikita wrote. While the Department of Human Services claims it cannot take Mask, Mikita suggested a drug treatment program through another agency or programs with the Utah Department of Education or the Provo School District could help restore competency. Mask's attorney, Richard Gale, however, called these suggestions absurd. Gale said it is important for the department to take Mask so that he can be treated correctly, even if that means he is treated at the county jail rather than one of the department's facilities. "The charge he has is life without parole, so I'm less concerned about the immediate incarceration than the long-term disposition," he said. Even if Mask is a risk to society, prison may not be the right place for him if he has a mental disability, Gale said. His case is difficult because he does not suffer from profound retardation, but is part of a group that often falls through the cracks. Funding for people with milder mental disabilities has reduced over the years, leaving them without the help they need to stay out of trouble, he said. "We've done away with a lot of the services for those people, so they're ending up in the criminal justice system," Gale said. Prosecutor Julia Thomas said the delays in the case are difficult for everyone involved. It is very hard for the victim, who wants a speedy resolution in the case, she said. "It's very frustrating," Thomas said. "He's already been in custody for over a year now." Thomas said the situation is puzzling, and it is difficult to tell where the case will go next. A hearing will be held Oct. 23, in which the judge will determine whether to vacate his previous order and call in more experts to determine Mask's competency. At that point, the case will likely be at the same place it was months ago. "We're at a really difficult position," Thomas said. "Obviously we don't want to let him loose. We think he's a danger to society." Posted in Local, American-fork, Provo on Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:05 am Updated: 1:03 am. | Tags: American Fork, Provo Related Judge declares A.F. rape suspect incompetent to stand trial Salesman accused in AF rape may be incompetent Salesman may be incompetent to stand trial American Fork police share tips for dealing with solicitors Salesman assaults A.F. woman Door-to-door salesman arrested for sexual assault heraldextra.com Provo, Utah Read This Story |
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Marketing Scam Goes Door to Door September 10, 2009 Marketing Scam Goes Door to Door Written by Adam Hammons KSMU Ozarks Public Radio Thursday, 10 September 2009 After an email she received from a student claiming to have been approached by one of these individuals, Kelly Wood, the head of the communication department, contacted the Attorney General’s office in Missouri and sent out an email to warn the faculty at Missouri State. Wood describes her feelings about the report and why she decided to do something about it. “It kind of set the hairs on the back of my neck about it. You know I don’t want people representing the communication department when they don’t.” The warning that Wood sent out states that people, posing as Missouri State students, are going door-to-do or trying to sell magazines. These individuals also claim to be earning points for a trip to London, England, sponsored by the communication department. They are reportedly saying that the money raised will go to a children’s hospital in London. Before this warning came out, Nick Addis, a senior at Missouri State, was approached at his apartment and was asked to buy a magazine subscription. Addis describes the point when he became suspicious of the situation. “Whenever my roommate and myself kind of got a little uneasy, we started hinting that we didn’t really want to purchase it, and that’s when he started getting pushy and saying he really needed the points and he really needed to sell magazines. So, that’s when we started thinking it was a scam.” Even though the sales pitch was suspicious, Addis really had no proof that it was a scam. Cliff Smart, general counsel at Missouri State, explains his doubts about the legitimacy of the scenario. “Well there’s the potential that all of this is not true, that the people that are posing as students aren’t really students. We know that their sales pitch was false because the university wasn’t sponsoring this program, in fact the university never sponsors these kinds of things.” Smart went on to say that this kind of magazine scam is not unheard of, and that it happens to many university campuses. An investigator with the Attorney General’s office is looking into the case. For KSMU News, I’m Adam Hammons. KSMU Ozarks Public Radio ksmu.org Springfield, Missouri Read This Story 
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MSU Warns of Scammers Selling Magazines September 10, 2009 MSU Warns of Scammers Selling Magazines By KSPR News Story Created: Sep 10, 2009 at 5:27 PM CDT Story Updated: Sep 10, 2009 at 5:27 PM CDT Missouri State University officials have learned of a marketing scam and are warning the public to be alert regarding contact. It has been reported that people are selling magazines by posing as Missouri State students, claiming they are earning points for a trip to London sponsored by the communication department. Moreover, they claim the magazines sales go to benefit a children’s hospital in London. “All such claims are false,” said Clifton Smart, university general counsel. “The communication department is sponsoring no such trip and the people are probably not students here.” The Missouri State Attorney General’s office has appointed an investigator who will follow up with witnesses. For more information, contact Smart at (417) 836-8507. kspr.com Springfield, Missouri Read This Story |
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Officials warn of door-to-door scam September 10, 2009 Officials warn of door-to-door scam By TESA CULLI tesa.culli@register-news.com Mt. Vernon register-news Published: September 10, 2009 07:10 pm “Anyone who is legitimately selling door-to-door gets a permit in the city,” Mt. Vernon Police Chief Chris Mendenall said. “Residents should be sure to know who you are dealing with when people ask for donations.” Mendenall said the police received several calls from residents in the Webster Hills area and have been able to get the license plate numbers of those involved in selling the magazines. According to media reports from St. Louis, there were at least two youth who went door-to-door claiming to be raising money for Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center as part of a selling competition to raise funds for a trip to London, England. Some reports state those going door-to-door claim to be going on the trip with their soccer team, another for their journalism classes. City Manager Ron Neibert said he was one of those who were solicited during the last week. “They had a card with pictures of Europe and said they were trying to win a trip to London,” Neibert said. “When I asked them about their soliciting license, they didn’t have one, and when they found out I was the city manager, they left quickly and said they would be getting the license.” However, no licenses have been obtained by the group. Licenses for solicitation are required in Mt. Vernon, and available in the City Clerk’s office for a fee of $75 per day. Those soliciting are then required to show the license to anyone who requests to see it, one way to protect citizens from scammers. Police are continuing to investigate the reports. tesa.culli@register-news.com Mt. Vernon register-news register-news.com Mt. Vernon, Illinois Read This Story |
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Southborough police warn about door-to-door solicitors September 10, 2009 Southborough police warn about door-to-door solicitors My Southborough Sep 10th, 2009 by susan. You probably got the reverse-911 call from the Southborough Police Department tonight warning about door-to-door solicitors using “high-pressure techniques.” (If you didn’t you may need to add your phone number to the reverse-911 database.) Here’s the text of the message: The Southborough Police Department would like to alert its citizens about a possible scam involving young adults soliciting door to door selling magazines using high-pressure techniques to coerce citizens into handling over cash and checks. Some successful ploys include money for my little league team or money for my school. This company has not registered with the Southborough Police Department. So use caution and contact us at 508-485-2121. We’ve talked about pushy door-to-door solicitors before, and at town meeting in a few weeks you’ll have the opportunity to vote on a tougher bylaw that would more tightly control solicitation in town. In a recent My Southborough poll, 93% of you said you would support such a bylaw. But in the meantime, the unscrupulous solicitors are apparently out there, so be careful, and remember that you don’t have to open your door to anyone. My Southborough mysouthborough.com Southborough, Massachusetts Read This Story |
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Woman threatened by magazine salesperson September 8, 2009 Woman threatened by magazine salesperson By ANJANETTE FLOWERS / NewsChannel 36 E-mail Anjanette: AFlowers@WCNC.com NewsChannel 36 WCNC 09:32 AM EDT on Tuesday, September 8, 2009 "She was raising money, so she said, for teens at risk and youth at risk, for education and housing placement," said Elysia Schabel, who says she was verbally abused by a magazine salesperson. Schabel said that story sounded all too familiar. Several months before, she bought two magazine subscriptions from a guy who came to her door. He worked for the same company. It was several months later before she finally received her magazines. Schabel told the lady at the door about her previous encounter with a magazine salesman. "I said yeah that company, I found out from the Better Business Bureau, the address doesn't exist and the phone number's disconnected and immediately it was a 360," said Schabel. That’s when things got ugly. "She called me a liar. She used profanity,” she said. Schabel went on to say, “I was nine months pregnant at the time. She actually comes stomping towards me with her fist out like this. I shut my door because she was inches away from me." There’ve been hundreds of complaints against magazine salesmen in recent months. And while there’ve been warnings about the lengths some will go to make a sale, the Better Business Bureau says this one takes the cake. "That may be an extreme case, but it just shows you the kind of people involved in running this type of scam,” said Tom Bartholomy, President of the BBB. Bartholomy went on to say, "they size up first the neighborhood, what's the age of this neighborhood." He added, "and so they have a couple of pitches in mind when somebody answers the door.” The best advice if a magazine salesperson comes knocking on your door, the Better Business Bureau says do your homework and check them out first. As for Schabel, she said "I just don't answer my door to someone I don't know." E-mail Anjanette: AFlowers@WCNC.com NewsChannel 36 WCNC wcnc.com Charlotte, North Carolina Read This Story |
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IUPD arrests man for illegally selling magazines on campus September 8, 2009 IUPD arrests man for illegally selling magazines on campus By Alex Benson | IDS Indiana Daily Student POSTED AT 01:05 PM ON Sep. 8, 2009 For the full story, check out Wednesday's edition of the IDS. Indiana Daily Student idsnews.com Bloomington, Indiana Read This Story |
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Door to Door Magazine Sales Scam Magazine Sales Company: Readers Digest September 7, 2009 Door to Door Magazine Sales Scam By Janice Lieberman Readers Digest.com September 7, 2009 My cousin Rhonda in Atlanta had a similar experience. A young man came to her door with a similar story. Only it was raining and she feeling sorry for him lent him her umbrella and asked he return it when he was done. She paid him $30 for the magazines and $10 processing fee. She never received her magazines and did not get her umbrella back! I still have the receipt that he gave me!! I called the number on it countless times and kept getting the same lady, Shirley, who told me that she'd process my request for a refund in two weeks...and this went on and on and on. I finally gave up,” says Rhonda. The Better Business Bureau says we are not alone in the last 12 months they have received 1,100 complaints from consumers in 46 states and the District of Columbia against more than 50 companies that are selling magazines door-to-door. For my report on the Today show www.msnbc.com I caught up with a young salesman, Lawrence Beal, who admitted it was just one big scam “ I would tell them I was from a small town and was trying to give something back to my community or tell them I was going to culinary art school. It was just one big giant scam.” Beal told me he is speaking out because he is sorry about misleading so many people and wants to warn others not to fall for it. The Better Business Bureau offers tips on how to avoid being taken by this scam: • Always research the company with your Better Business Bureau for free at www.bbb.org before filling out a check for a magazine subscription. • The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives the customer three days to cancel purchases over $25 that are made in their home or at a location that is not the seller’s permanent place of business. Along with a receipt, salespeople should also include a completed cancellation form that customers can send to the company to cancel the agreement. By law, the company must give customers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice. • Victims of fraudulent magazine sales can file a complaint with their Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, local law enforcement, and state Attorney General offices Readers Digest.com rd.com Read This Story |
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Salesmen might avoid Titusville Door-to-Door Sales Company: Southwestern Company September 7, 2009 Salesmen might avoid Titusville City considers 'No Knock' list BY AMANDA STRATFORD • FLORIDA TODAY • September 7, 2009 The city council will discuss the feasibility of creating a "No Knock" list that peddlers would be required to obtain before going door to door. "It seems relatively simple," said Councilman Paul Secor, who learned of a town in New Jersey using the list. "I like the simpleness and the straightforwardness of the ordinance, and it seems to really make sense because it parallels the Do Not Call list." Edison, N.J., adopted the No Knock list in 1999 and officials there said they've had few complaints. "We have found it successful," said Jerry Barca, communications director for the township. "Residents have appreciated it here for sure." Titusville already requires peddlers, panhandlers and solicitors to obtain a permit from the city. Titusville's city attorney Dwight Severs is researching the legality of going further and creating the No Knock list. But City Manager Mark Ryan said if it moves forward, it would only apply to commercial entities. Trick-or-treaters and probably even Jehovah's Witnesses would be exempt. In Edison, Jennifer Frosten said there have been some difficulties. On the list herself, Frosten also is the clerk typist in the town's license and permits department. This year, Frosten has added 612 names. She didn't know an exact number, but said of Edison's 110,000 residents, more people are on the Do Not Knock list than not. "I've got files and files and files and files," Frosten said. "I hate it because it's more of a hassle with all the paperwork." The list, however, has cut down on door-to-door sales pitches. She said most solicitors don't bother anymore because it's not worth the effort of searching the long list. Titusville only has one active solicitor registered with the city, a college student selling educational books. Southwestern Company, an organization based in Tennessee, helps students engage in the door-to-door sales through a summer program. Southwestern's attorney Gary Pears said No Knock lists were often inaccurate and outdated. He said that a "No Solicitation" sign is all that is needed and that the No Knock list would violate the First Amendment right of free commercial speech. But Ryan said it's worth looking into. "I have not heard of it happening in Florida, so we may be setting new ground here," he said. Contact Stratford at 360-1016 or astratford@floridatoday.com. floridatoday.com Titusville, Florida Read This Story |
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Southwestern Company: Southwestern Company Research |
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Door-to-Door Sales Scam Alert DMPG Info: Magazine Sales Company: Quality Subscriptions Inc. AKA: QSI Magazine Clearinghouse: United Family Circulation End DMPG Info September 3, 2009 Door-to-Door Sales Scam Alert Franklin Matters Posted bySteve Sherlock at 2:30 PM Thursday, September 3, 2009 Posted bySteve Sherlock at2:30 PM Labels:police Posted bySteve Sherlock at 2:30 PM franklinmatters.blogspot.com Franklin, Massachusetts Read This Story |
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Six arrested for Butte door-to-door sales September 2, 2009 Six arrested for Butte door-to-door sales Laurel Staples Reporting for KXLF in Butte WorldNow, Montana's News Station Posted: Sep 2, 2009 04:38 PM CDT Updated: Sep 2, 2009 04:38 PM CDT Reporting for KXLF in Butte WorldNow, Montana's News Station montanasnewsstation.com Butte, Montana Read This Story |
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Door-to-door salesman arrested September 1, 2009 Door-to-door salesman arrested KSL-TV 5 Salt Lake City, Utah September 1st, 2009 @ 12:09pm  Timothy Haas KSL-TV 5 Police say Timothy Haas was going door to door in Washington City selling magazines. When a homeowner asked if he had a business license, Haas got mad. The homeowner called police who arrested Haas for failing to have a business license, disorderly conduct and driving on a suspended license. ksl.com Salt Lake City, Utah Read This Story |
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Advice: Greet door-to-door sales offers with caution DMPG Info: Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Company: Crossroads Subscriptions AKA: Lone Star Subscriptions Clearinghouse: All Star Promotions End DMPG Info August 29, 2009 Advice: Greet door-to-door sales offers with caution By JO DEE BLACK • Tribune Business Editor • August 29, 2009 Great Fall Tribune "The caller reported suspicious activity, which isn't considered a criminal complaint," department spokesman Sgt. Jeff Newton said. However, people need to be cautious when approached with such a sales pitch, said Zan Deery of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Washington, which serves Montana. The BBB has received six complaints about Texas-based Crossroads Subscriptions, which had people in Great Falls this week. The complaint involved subscriptions that were paid for and not delivered or from people who wanted a refund. The receptionist who answered the phone at Crossroads Subscriptions' Aubrey, Texas, headquarters Friday said the company currently has two teams of independent contractors in Montana. She then said she could not answer any more questions and would have a company manager call the Tribune. The Tribune did not receive a return call from the company as of Friday evening. Great Fall Tribune greatfallstribune.com Great Falls, Montana Read This Story |
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Sheriff closes shop on peddlers DMPG Info: Door-to-Door Cleaner Sales Company: T & B Clearinghouse/Distributor: Austin Diversified Products Cleaner Product: Adavange Wonder Cleaner End DMPG Info August 29, 2009 Sheriff closes shop on peddlers Ga. pitchmen didn’t have permit to solicit From staff reports The Daily Advance Saturday, August 29, 2009 The suspects, some of whom have prior criminal records, were charged Tuesday with violating Camden’s peddlers and solicitors ordinance, Camden Sheriff Tony Perry said. According to Perry, residents of the Whitehall Shores and Danson’s Grant areas of Camden reported being approached by several of the solicitors, some of whom were “very pushy and intimidating.” When deputies responded, the salesmen told them they were working for T & B Sales of Riverdale, Ga. Because the company did not have a permit to solicit in Camden, the eight salesmen were charged with violating the county’s peddlers ordinance. The charged include: • Michael David Wilson, of Smyrna, Tenn.; • Laporche Katrice Richards, of Portsmouth, Va.; • Perry Lewis Mitchell of Fayetteville; • Terry Tyrone Paul of Detroit, Mich.; • Devon Sneed Daly of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; • Larry D. Woods Jr., of Milwaukee, Wis.; • Dwayne Michael Harris’Gaynor of Portsmouth, Va.; and • Joel Herbert Helm-Moorman of Ypsilanti, Mich. All but Helm-Moorman were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds. Helm-Moorman, who has an extensive criminal record and was uncooperative with a magistrate, was jailed on a $5,000 secured bond, Perry said. Because Helm-Moorman and other T & B salesmen had prior arrests for burglary and armed robbery, they would have been ineligible for a solicitor permit in Camden, Perry said. Perry said county officials adopted the ordinance several years ago after a similar group of door-to-door solicitors came through the area selling cleaning products. The ordinance does not apply to residents going door-to-door for charitable causes, he said. Recently, representatives of a company called Paramount Builders were also charged with soliciting without a permit. The sheriff planned to contact T & B Sales and advise the company that permits are required to sell door-to-door in Camden County. Perry also warned residents to be wary of door-to-door solicitors. “Citizens need to take extra precautions in that these solicitors are from out of the state and knocking on doors to sell products that may or may not be legitimate,” Perry said. “These violators just may be looking to harm and rob citizens in their homes, and letting them in their homes may be opening an opportunity for these violators to stake out the house to come back later and burglarize it.” He noted that 14 people have been charged with violating the county’s solicitors ordinance since May. Camden’s apparently not the only place the T & B solicitors have been trying to pitch their products. In e-mails to The Daily Advance, several readers in Pasquotank said they, too, had been approached by peddlers trying to sell them cleaning products. “The two guys that came to my house were very persistent,” one e-mailer said. “They claimed to be from the Detroit area... When I told him I was not interested in purchasing his product, but would like to have one of the brochures he was carrying he told me that they only give those to customers who purchase the product.” Perry advised citizens not to hesitate to call 911 to report solicitors working in their neighborhoods. The Daily Advance dailyadvance.com Camdon County, North Carolina Read This Story |
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August 29, 2009 DMPG research into the above cleaner sales company: T&B Sales Manager: Timothy Burgess 8405 Avalon Drive Riverdale, GA 30274 Phone (800)323-6444 T&B Sales distributes Advanage Wonder Cleaner for: Austin Diversified Products 16615 S. Halsted Street Harvey, IL 60426 (708) 333-7644 FAX: (708) 333-4775 cs1@advanage.com Owner: Nathan T. Edwards Austin Diversified Products Website:advanage.com Austin Diversified Products is a member of the National Field Selling Association: 100 North 20th Street 4th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103-1443 215.564.1627 FAX: 215.564.2175 National Field Selling Association Website:nfsa.com View other crimes: Profiles By Name And Company Note: The DMPG collects information from various sources: police reports, court documents, media articles, and secretary of state websites. The DMPG is not responsible for inaccurate data in any of the above sources of information. Various company websites change over a period of time. Information and Links also change. The DMPG cannot control this and for this reason cannot guarantee 100% accuracty of data. If you have a question or find an error on this website please contact the DMPG WebMaster: WebMaster ~or~ read the DMPG disclaimer: DMPG Disclaimer |
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Chesapeake residents claim to be victims of magazine scheme Magazine Sales Company: United Circulation LLC August 28, 2009 Chesapeake residents claim to be victims of magazine scheme Reported by Kristina Rohall 13News WVEC 10:53 PM EDT on Friday, August 28, 2009 13News WVEC wvec.com Norfolk, Virginia Read This Story |
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Warning--Scam! Magazine Sales Company: Fit for Life, Inc August 27, 2009 Warning--Scam! Soldiers Angels soldiersangels.org 08/27/09 In general, if a company is working with Soldiers' Angels, information on their project will be found on this site. Just click "Search" on the left side of the page here and enter the name of the company or project to see if they are legit. If you ever have questions about a company, you can ask them for the name of their Soldiers' Angels contact or email angels@soldiersangels.org (sometimes local or small companies will make arrangements that don't appear on the website). The statement above is posted in response to the following email Soldiers' Angels recently received: I am writing to you to see if a door-to-door mail scam that promised to donate 1/2 their proceeds to the Soldier's Angels organization is really doing that. Here's what happened: a young girl said she was going to college and works for the Fit for Life, Inc. She said for $48 a magazine, they would donate $24 to purchasing and sending a magazine to a troop through Soldiers' Angels. She then said the remainder would go to her college tuition and books, etc, directly through the school. She could not verify a 501(c)(3) standing, and when pushed said their costs were covered by a $15.00 processing fee. We turned her away and said come back with a 501(c)(3) letter...When I did an Internet search, the only relevant item I noted about Fit for Fife, Inc. was that it was listed in door-to-door scams and magazine scams notices. Thanks for your time, Laura Thank you for alerting us to this scam, Laura! soldiersangels.org Pasadena, California Read This Story |
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Magazine salesman charged in theft August 27, 2009 Police Beat Magazine salesman charged in theft Charlottesville Daily Progress By The Daily Progress Staff Published: August 27, 2009 Jack Gardenhire, 23, was arrested and charged with robbery after police found him with a stolen laptop blocks from the scene of the crime, city police Lt. Gary Pleasants said. Police claim Gardenhire pushed his way past a student and into a Stadium Road “He was one of nine people who have come in and gotten a city license to sell magazines for a company that, as far as we can tell, is legitimate,” Pleasants said. “He knocked on the door and asked this person about magazines, and when the person said no, forced his way into the residence. Police found Gardenhire sitting in a car in a nearby parking lot soon after, Pleasants said. The backpack and laptop were with Gardenhire, Pleasants said. “We’ve had some pushy salesmen before, but nothing like this,” Pleasants said. Robbers sometimes claim falsely to be salesmen, Pleasants said. This case is unique because the alleged robber was also a genuine salesman, he said. Police suggest that when greeted with a salesman at the door, residents should: - use a one-way peephole; - ask for identification; - ask for a city-issued license, but exercise reasonable caution even if there is a license; and - contact police if the seller refuses to produce identification. By The Daily Progress Staff www2.dailyprogress.com Charlottesville, Virginia Read This Story |
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Charlottesville Police Arrest Door-to-Door Thief August 26, 2009 Charlottesville Police Arrest Door-to-Door Thief Charlottesville Police arrested a man Tuesday after he forced his way into a home while selling magazine door-to-door. The suspect took a computer and cash. WCAV/WVAW/WAHU Posted: 9:06 AM Aug 26, 2009 Updated: 9:06 AM Aug 26, 2009  Charlottesville Police arrested a 23-year-old Philadelphia man Tuesday after he forced his way into a home while selling magazine door-to-door. The robbery happened Monday night around 8pm on Stadium Road. Police say the person who answered the door told the man he was not interested, but the suspect allegedly entered the home and took a computer and some money. Police found the suspect, Jack Gardenhire, a short time later off Jefferson Park Avenue. Gardenhire was arrested and charged with robbery. Gardenhire had the required city license and was working for a company out of Chesapeake. "We want to make sure citizens across town who have seen folks in their neighborhood engaging in these types of solicitations to be aware of this, be mindful of this and when they see someone engaged in suspicious activity, to call police and let us come out and investigate it," said Charlottesville Police Chief, Tim Longo. As the November election and the 2010 Census get closer, police want to pass along some reminders: Don't answer the door to strangers, ask for identification and know you have no obligation to let any stranger enter your home. charlottesvillenewsplex.tv Charlottesville, Virginia Read This Story |
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Former door-to-door reps call magazine sales a scam Magazine Sales Company: Sunshine Subscriptions AKA: Palmetto Marketting August 26, 2009 Former door-to-door reps call magazine sales a scam By NINA CRISCUOLO The POWER of 7 KOAM-TV Updated: Aug 26, 2009 08:06 PM CDT "We're kids in contests, going around doing this kind of thing - we hand out a contest card, proves who we are, it's got our name, information, height, weight, hair color, eye color, everything - picture of us and it states the contest we're doing," says Jeff Fales, one of four former Sunshine Subscription representative who were dropped off at the Greyhound station in Joplin. Whether the contest is real is still unclear for the former traveling sales reps. - The former reps we spoke with say the decision to join the traveling sales team is their biggest regret. They say they were forced to work long hours for little money in sub-standard cars and environments. "Most of the drivers we know have driver's license, some are good, some are irrate, they go on the job intoxicated or high off whatever drug they did the night before or day of, it's a personal safety hazard," Fales says. "Most of the vehicles, we've had a lot of vehicles break down, some vehicles don't run right, it's just personal safety." - Donnis (D.J.) Barnes told us he thought the job would get him back on his feet. Instead, he says he's working long hours selling magazines, often receiving $25 for his work daily. He says the company pays workers only enough to eat, but not enough to find a way out. "Over worked, under paid, you're working 12 or 14 hours a day, and sometimes you're getting but $10, $15, $20 a night to live off of the next day," says Barnes. They told us some reps are even forgotten while working out on location. "Some of the drivers forget where you're at and go pick up everybody else and leave," Junior Toppings told us. Fales says that is what happened to his fiance and now he has no idea where she is. "Her name is Jessica Rosentangle, she was working in Fayetteville Arkansas," Fales says. "I really need some time to find out - just call home." - The owner of Sunshine Subscriptions, Vincent Pitts, would not talk on camera but told us Rosentangle "ran into another sales company from Nevada and decided to join their team, and got into a white SUV. I worry when they make those decisions, but they are adults" Pitts says he provides a safe work environment for his workers. He also told us that he pays on a commission basis, and provides a bus ticket home for when their time with the company comes to an end. He insists his salespersons choose their own hours and says many of them work longer because they have not made any sales. Pitts says "the workers each have their own quota that they set themselves. Jeff, he wasn't making sales so I told him he might as well go home." - Pitts says he bought Fales and 18-year-old Junior Toppings tickets home. But Liz Becket and D.J. Barnes say they were left stranded. Pitts says he provides everyone with a ticket home. He says Becket wanted to leave with Barnes instead of heading to Michigan, so Pitts respected that request and says "if Liz would like to go back home to Michigan I will drive to the station and gladly buy her a ticket. D.J. has quit before and when I rehired him I told him 'if you decide to leave again you are on your own.'" The POWER of 7 KOAM-TV koamtv.com Cherokee County, Kansas Read This Story |
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September 6, 2009
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READER'S DIGEST, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND THE CIA August 25, 2009 READER'S DIGEST, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND THE CIA By Anon AANGIRFAN aangirfan.blogspot.com Tuesday, August 25, 2009 AANGIRFAN aangirfan.blogspot.com Read This Story |
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Police blotter August 21, 2009 Police blotter Daily Record dailyrecord.com August 21, 2009 dailyrecord.com Parsippany, New Jeresy Read This Story |
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Warning - Heritage Marketing magazine salesman Magazine Sales Company: Heritage Marketing August 21, 2009 Warning - Heritage Marketing magazine salesman Imagine Pinehurst pinehurstcommunity.blogspot.com Friday, August 21, 2009 I just had a door to door magazine salesperson come to my door trying to sell me a magazine subscription. He claimed to be with Heritage Marketing. He told me that he lived in the neighborhood. I asked him where and he pointed to the ______'s house and said his father told him that I was a good neighbor to ask for help with his attempt to raise funds to travel to London to recreate the first four episodes of Faulty Towers with John Cleese (???). I asked what his father's name was and he said that he was not allowed to tell me. I pushed it a little further and he got irate with me and left. So, I put my shoes on and followed him up the street. I asked him some more questions to see if he would provide his identity. No go. I explained to him that he had just lied to me and that misrepresenting himself like that is not ok. He claimed to be a student at WSU, that he lived in Bellevue, and that he was a communications major. I did a quick search on line on Heritage Marketing and two scam stories popped up that are nearly identical to my experience with this guy. I called the police. They are looking for him right now. If you see this guy, call the police. He is about 20, 5-11, roughly 180 pounds, blue eyes, black hair, blue t shirt with a screenprinted graphic, beige cargo shorts, and white basketball shoes. He is carrying a black folder with transaction slips for Heritage Marketing as well as three laminated cards - two that show the magazines available, and one that has the names of local veterans that will supposedly vouch for him. Here is a link to the other story that is almost identical- http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/heritage-marketing-c213736.html UPDATE: I have heard from many Pinehurst neighbors who have also had visits by similar magazine salespeople in the past month. Please pass on this warning regarding magazine salespeople to your neighbors who do not read the blog or who are not on the neighborhood mailing list. Note however, that there are still many legitimate and trustworthy individuals who go door to door. For example, I understand that there are canvassers in our neighborhood working on election campaigns and on healthcare reform issues. Please use judgement and common sense and ask for identification as it seems appropriate. pinehurstcommunity.blogspot.com Seattle, Washington Read This Story |
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Bench Warrant August 20, 2009 Bench Warrant Southampton Town Police News Hamptons.com A Hamptons Online publication Southampton, New York Updated: August 20, 2009 Miguel Serrano, 22, of New York City, was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant and peddling without a license on Saturday, Aug. 15. According to reports, Serrano was picked up for selling magazines without a permit in the area of Bellows Terrace in Hampton Bays at approximately 5:31 p.m. Police also found that he had an active bench warrant out of New York City for a prior petit larceny charge, as well as two family court warrants. Serrano was transported to police headquarters for processing. A Hamptons Online publication Southampton, New York Read This Story |
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Missing Young Adults Could Be Selling Magazines Door to Door Magazine Sales Company: Alliance Service Company August 20, 2009 Missing Young Adults Could Be Selling Magazines Door to Door August 20, 2009 by Dawn Hawkins Associated Content associatedcontent.com Could Your Child Be in a "Mag Crew"? Many people have had the opportunity to meet these young adults. They pose as college students trying to win a trip or some other fantastic item. They tell you that they are from the area to make you think you would be helping someone local get the prize of a lifetime. Unfortunately, the only thing you are really helping is the people who own the company for which these kids work. The kids sell magazines door-to-door. These young adults are targeted by the company because the kids have no job, no place to live and are often hungry because they simply don't have the money to eat. When a member of a "mag crew" approaches the young adult, it is difficult to pass up what is painted as a way to make a huge amount of money. One such company is Alliance Service Company. Visiting their web page will give you some idea of the promises made to the young people who join their crews. Don't fall for it. The company has a known reputation for being abusive to the kids who join. There is a great deal of verbal abuse and physical abuse that goes on behind the scenes. Purchasing magazines from these kids assures only one thing. The company they work for will get richer and the kids who work door-to-door selling magazines won't ever get ahead or be able to break away. It is important that people are aware of what really goes on with magazine crews. If you have a missing child or young adult, the magazine crews are a great place to begin looking for them. There are a few things that you should be aware of before heading down this path though. First and foremost, be aware that if you call the main office, it is likely that you will be told your child is not with any of the crews. It is wise to push the issue even if you aren't sure your child is with them. This will at least get them to look into it. Associated Content associatedcontent.com Read This Story |
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Selling magazines door to door for charity Magazine Sales Company: Fresh Start Opportunities August 19, 2009 Selling magazines door to door for charity Malaise Precis malaiseprecis.blogspot.com Wednesday, August 19, 2009 Posted by malaiseprecis at 9:34 AM 1. Coal Run Police Chief Todd Akers says people are claiming they are selling magazine subscriptions for a charity or a college, but he says their stories do not check out. He says no local charities or colleges say they are selling magazine subscriptions. 2. Yes, some of the sellers are hardened dyed in the wool con artists with criminal records, but you may also want to keep in mind that an increasing number of the sellers are innocent people who have gotten trapped into this form of modern day indentured servitude/youth exploitation by unscrupulous "recruiters". Some of the sellers may be as young as 14, but are telling people they are 18. 3. Traveling Sales Crews via Absolute Write. From the latter link: The kids who just came to my door (all adorable wide-eyed smiles when trying to hook me, and abusive and cursing when I politely turned them down) were from American Community Services, Inc., but there are many such organizations that function like gangs and ensnare kids into a truly horrible lifestyle. 4. In Seattle, WA: If a young person knocks on your door and says they're selling magazines for a charity, wait before reaching for your pocketbook. Fresh Start Opportunities claims that money from the subscriptions will be used to help young people get a “fresh start on life,” but the company isn’t a registered charity. ... Solicitors represent that the purchase of subscriptions will help young people get off the street and back on their feet so they can earn money to go to school. ... A 19-year-old man working for Fresh Start Opportunities was arrested : in October after he allegedly broke into an Edmonds home, attacked the owner and stole her purse. The man was also a suspect in burglaries in Sammamish and Tumwater. Fresh Start Opportunities employees have also been linked to California thefts. What if these "sales people" are also using this as a pretext to see how vulnerable a home is to burglary? Perhaps not answering the door is the best option. Posted by malaiseprecis at 9:34 AM Labels: Googling, Washington DC malaiseprecis.blogspot.com Read This Story |
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Magazine 'salesman' charged in threats in Washington Township August 19, 2009 Magazine 'salesman' charged in threats in Washington Township Subscriptions were phony, troopers say Reading Eagle Last Update: 8/19/2009 12:27:00 AM  Robert Bradshaw A frustrated "salesman" was arrested for threatening a Washington Township resident who wouldn't order a magazine subscription from him. But things got worse for the suspect after a state police investigation concluded that his subscriptions were phony. Robert J. Bradshaw, 23, of Gary, Ind., who had been going door to door for three days selling what police determined to be bogus subscriptions, was arrested late Monday morning after Scott Rothenberger of Laura Drive called 9-1-1 to report being harassed and threatened. According to court records: After Rothenberger refused to buy a subscription, Bradshaw became irate. Before leaving he asked Rothenberger, "What would you think if you came home and your house was blown up?" It was the second time in three days that state police were sent to Washington Township in response to Bradshaw's refusing to take no for an answer. On Saturday, troopers warned Bradshaw that he must leave immediately if a resident told him to do so. The warning came after Kelsey Herman of Lindy Drive called 9-1-1 about 5:45 p.m. to report that Bradshaw refused to leave her property after she wouldn't agree to buy a subscription. She told dispatchers that she felt threatened. Following the arrest Monday, troopers determined that the Texas company Bradshaw claimed to be working for did not exist. Bradshaw was arraigned Tuesday on charges of making terroristic threats, theft by deception and disorderly conduct in Reading Central Court by District Judge Gloria W. Stitzel. He was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. readingeagle.com Reading, Pennsylvania Read This Story |
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Mount Olive arrests men on charges of selling magazines without a permit DMPG Info: Magazine Sales Company: Coast 2 Coast: AKA: Gemini Subscriptions No Limit Sales Face to Face Technologies, Inc Performance Clearing Services, Inc Rollout Promotions, Inc Dynasty Technologies, Inc Love Technologies, Inc Magazines, Inc Fun Sales, Inc Youth Incentive Marketing, Inc Creative Marketing, Inc Prolific Marketing, LLC Gold Coast Circulation, Inc New Image Sales, Inc Rainbow Sales, Inc Southern Marketing Group, LLC Yoli and Associates, Inc Editorials International, Inc Dynasty Technologies, Inc Face Off D2D Consulting Reviste Frontline Communications Preferred Consulting Services Magazine Clearinghouse: Great Lake Circulation, Inc. AKA: American Cash Award End DMPG Info August 19, 2009 Mount Olive arrests men on charges of selling magazines without a permit by New Jersey Local News Service Wednesday August 19, 2009, 6:20 PM Local New Jersey News Covering Essex, Morris, Middlesex, Union, Somerset counties and more nj.com |