Door-to-Door Sales Scam Threatens Cedar Rapids

By Beth Malicki, Anchor/Reporter

Tools

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: May 4, 2007 at 10:20 AM CST

Story Updated: May 4, 2007 at 11:11 AM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - When it comes to door-to-door solicitors, it seems that every household deals with them. But when does a sales pitch cross the line? One neighborhood found out the hard way.

Lisa Klein is used to Girl scouts knocking on her door. So she wasn't suspicious when a young man approached her selling magazines.

"It was obvious he was trying to sell something and he said he was kind of a young guy probably 20 years old. He said that he was trying to get a trip to Cabo San Lucas," said Klein.

For about three days the young man walked through the neighborhood telling people buying his magazines will help him get to some destination.

"He started going through his magazine pitch of a completely different route saying he was a U of I student and big Hawkeye fan and so on and so forth," said homeowner, Dave Drahn.

Residents on Riverside Drive started talking. Apparently the magazine peddler had a different story for every house. And then they found crumpled up filled out order forms.

"There were other neighbors who purchased magazines and they checked the logo on his paperwork on the Internet and somehow if they said it was a scam so I know they called the police," said Klein.

A few neighbors cancelled their checks and alerted their banks. The Cedar Rapids police say door to door venders need to be licensed. They should also have credentials and tell you who they're selling for.

"The bit of advice that the police gave was if you don't recognize who they are then it's probably not a good idea to buy from them," said Drahn.

Even on a family friendly street, solicitors don't always play fair. Police aren't investigating this because so far no one has actually lost money or been the victim of fraud.

Next Article Dubuque Group Pushes Prayer at Council Meetings

Conversation Guidelines

Be Kind

Don't use abusive, offensive, threatening, racist, vulgar or sexually-oriented language.
Don't attack someone personally. Keep it civil and be responsible.

Share Knowledge

Be truthful. Share what you know and what you are passionate about.
What more do you want to learn? Keep it simple.

Stay focused

Promote lively and healthy debate. Stay on topic. Ask questions and give feedback on the story's topic.

Report Trouble

Help us maintain a quality comment section by reporting comments that are offensive. If you see a comment that is offensive, or you feel violates our guidelines, simply click on the "x" to the far right of the comment to report it.

read the full guidelines here »

Commenting will be disabled on stories dealing with the following subject matter: Violent crime, sexual abuse, Amber Alerts, Operation Quickfinds and suicides.