Area Officials Warn of Door-to-Door Magazine Sales Scams

Authorities are warning area residents about young scam artists going door-to-door selling books and magazine subscriptions and falsely claiming they are raising money for school teams, sports clubs and other nonprofit organizations.

In the past year, police and consumer groups in Virginia and Maryland have received complaints from residents who say they have been subjected to high-pressure solicitations to buy items to benefit local kids' programs. Some salespeople claim they attend local high schools or are members of local teams.

Tom Herman, activities director at McLean High School in Fairfax County, said he has received complaints that some door-to-door salespeople are claiming they are members of the school's baseball team. They aren't, he said.

"Our baseball team is not involved with any fundraiser of that type," Herman said. "I don't know who it is."

In recent months, the local Better Business Bureau, the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs and Montgomery County police have issued warnings about the scams.

The Fairfax County Division of Consumer Protection and Fairfax police said they also have received complaints recently from residents who said they had been asked to buy magazine subscriptions from salespeople who claimed the money would go to a nonprofit organization.

"People are questioning their legitimacy," said Fairfax police spokeswoman Mary Ann Jennings.

The Better Business Bureau of Washington recently issued a warning about the practice.

Not only are buyers being victimized but so are the young people recruited to do the selling, said BBB chief executive Edward Johnson. Many youngsters are transported long distances and make little or no money, he said. The National Consumers League has ranked the jobs among the worst for youth.

"That's not to say that everything that knocks on your door is a scam," Johnson said. "But many people probably don't realize the potentially vicious nature of this industry -- both from the standpoint of the purported products and the means by which the sales are accomplished."

Kraig Troxell, spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, said he had not heard of the scam in Loudoun but encouraged residents to take preventive measures.

"When people come to your house selling these items, they need to have a solicitor's permit. You should ask for proof that they are there legitimately," he said.