Door-to-door ex con rehabilitation?

GobbledyGook

I would let your local police station and trading standards know that they are in your area. It's worked out ok for you and £5 isn't a great sum in the grand scheme of things. However we had a story in the local paper last week of an old lady who fell for a similar con and ended up buying over £400 worth of junk.

Round here if you let trading standards know they let home helps and the likes know so that vulnerable people get warned about the scam being in the area.

patchwork_cat

It's the brush man they have been going for years.

londonsurrey

GobbledyGook wrote: »

I would let your local police station and trading standards know that they are in your area. It's worked out ok for you and £5 isn't a great sum in the grand scheme of things. However we had a story in the local paper last week of an old lady who fell for a similar con and ended up buying over £400 worth of junk.

Round here if you let trading standards know they let home helps and the likes know so that vulnerable people get warned about the scam being in the area.

This would be an excellent move. I remember years ago, on the train, overhearing this young man chatting up two girls dressed up for a day in Epsom. He was describing how one particular elderly lady was really nice to him, and he'd gotten £1500 out of her so far.

j.e.j.

I've not heard of this rouse before, but post #7 implies it's almost certainly a scam. You can either just put it down to experience (it was only a fiver), or you can contact your local police or look at their website to see if they have any advice or info.

squidge60

Do like me i just ignore the door (do have a spyhole) that way i dont have to be rude and it doesnt wind me up.:D

GobbledyGook

It seems to be a very widespread con/scam. I would definitely let someone know they are operating in your area now.

http://www.london-probation.org.uk/about_us/door-to-door_scam.aspx

http://www.probation-lancashire.org.uk/news/default_item.php?id=90

http://www.cheshireprobation.org.uk/

http://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/news/9505706.Ex_offenders_in_door_to_door_sales_scam/

daisiegg

One of the ones who came round to my old house where I used to live I'm sure actually was genuine - I happened to have my laptop out and I made him wait on the doorstep while I googled the charity he said ran the scheme - and it seemed to be genuine. This was a couple of years ago now and I can't for the life of me remember what it was called. The guy today, though, wasn't from the same scheme I'm sure, as I think the badge was different etc.

JimmyTheWig

I had one of these last night. Get them from time to time. I don't buy and sell at the door, so said no without seeing his stuff.

But what I don't understand is the cover story behind it. It seems (a) unlikely and (b) not very inviting. I mean I wouldn't have thought that most people would want ex-cons at their door, would they?

flora48

I always feel so sorry for the poor lads who call on me. I tell then it is they who are being exploited and give them something to get a cuppa and a bite to eat but refuse to pay a fiver for a J cloth. The ones I have seen seem very vulnerable.

sassyblue

daisiegg wrote: »

Usually a young man with a laminated ID badge/form thing, and a bag of household tat being sold for extortionate prices, saying that it's part of young offenders' rehabilitation.

Sounds like daylight robbery to me.