Door-to-door magazine sale scams out in full force
SEATTLE -- A heads up that deceptive door-to-door magazine sales crews are out in full force.
They're mostly high school and college-age kids who seem nice enough, but they tell you a pack of lies to rip you off.
Crystal Downes of Snohomish fell for the pitch.
"(The girl) seemed really sweet. She seemed really sincere."
At the door was a young woman selling magazine subscriptions.
"She said she was a young single mom, and there was a company in Seattle that would help her get on her feet," Downes said.
The company was Fresh Start Opportunities.
"She seemed very legitimate," Downes said. "She wore a badge around her necklace, that had some sort of badge, and on the back, she had a picture of her young son."
So crystal paid $54 for a two-year subscription to Prevention magazine. But the magazine never came, and Fresh Start Opportunities never returned her calls.
Because of all the complaints, the Better Business Bureau gives Fresh Start Opportunities' an "F" rating.
"(Customers) are either receiving nothing, they're receiving something they didn't order, or they're receiving it so far out that their subscription is pretty much expired," said Niki Horace with the BBB.
State attorney general Rob McKenna sounds a similar warning:
"Many of these kids are recruited by organizations that train them in a sales pitch, much of which is fabricated."
McKenna wsays the sellers have also been trained to look and sound legit.
"The ID can be faked, the paperwork they show you that tries to demonstrate that they're legitimate can be faked," McKenna said. "Some of these organizations are very sophisticated."
For instance, 'Fresh Start' has a Web site, it shows the company is located in Downtown Seattle at 93 South Jackson Street. But all we found there was a post office. "Suite 8135" is just a mailbox inside.
I called the company several times, but my messages were not returned.
Something else: Fresh Start Opportunities is not registered as a charity in our state. So they should not even be out trying to raise money.
My advice: Unless it's a kid you know who lives down the street, steer clear of all door-to-door sales. If you can't say no to someone face-to-face, don't open the door.
Never let any door to door salesperson inside your house. They could steal something of value -- like your checkbook. Sadly, it happens all the time.
For more information:
BBB Warns Against a Summer Scam Going Door-to-Door Nationwide
Magazine Subscription Scams
They're mostly high school and college-age kids who seem nice enough, but they tell you a pack of lies to rip you off.
Crystal Downes of Snohomish fell for the pitch.
"(The girl) seemed really sweet. She seemed really sincere."
At the door was a young woman selling magazine subscriptions.
"She said she was a young single mom, and there was a company in Seattle that would help her get on her feet," Downes said.
The company was Fresh Start Opportunities.
"She seemed very legitimate," Downes said. "She wore a badge around her necklace, that had some sort of badge, and on the back, she had a picture of her young son."
So crystal paid $54 for a two-year subscription to Prevention magazine. But the magazine never came, and Fresh Start Opportunities never returned her calls.
Because of all the complaints, the Better Business Bureau gives Fresh Start Opportunities' an "F" rating.
"(Customers) are either receiving nothing, they're receiving something they didn't order, or they're receiving it so far out that their subscription is pretty much expired," said Niki Horace with the BBB.
State attorney general Rob McKenna sounds a similar warning:
"Many of these kids are recruited by organizations that train them in a sales pitch, much of which is fabricated."
McKenna wsays the sellers have also been trained to look and sound legit.
"The ID can be faked, the paperwork they show you that tries to demonstrate that they're legitimate can be faked," McKenna said. "Some of these organizations are very sophisticated."
For instance, 'Fresh Start' has a Web site, it shows the company is located in Downtown Seattle at 93 South Jackson Street. But all we found there was a post office. "Suite 8135" is just a mailbox inside.
I called the company several times, but my messages were not returned.
Something else: Fresh Start Opportunities is not registered as a charity in our state. So they should not even be out trying to raise money.
My advice: Unless it's a kid you know who lives down the street, steer clear of all door-to-door sales. If you can't say no to someone face-to-face, don't open the door.
Never let any door to door salesperson inside your house. They could steal something of value -- like your checkbook. Sadly, it happens all the time.
For more information:
BBB Warns Against a Summer Scam Going Door-to-Door Nationwide
Magazine Subscription Scams