Consumer Affairs Warns About Door-to-Door Scams

Be careful who you open your door and your wallet for.  The Spartanburg Boys and Girls Club says they’re being used, again, by magazine subscription sellers.  And the State Department of Consumer Affairs is warning you about a door-to-door book selling scam. 

Boys and Girls Club President Greg Tolbert says he’s received a complaint that someone is selling magazines door to door, using the boys and girls club name.  Said Tolbert, “They have a hard luck story about their own life, and how they’re trying to give back to the community, and raise money for these worthy causes, and using names of various charities, including ours.“

But Tolbert says there’s no such fundraiser.  Spartanburg Public Safety says they have questioned the magazine sellers but have not been able to verify if they are using the Boys and Girls Club name.  Officers say the sellers have been operating without a city permit.

Tolbert says the same problem happened a couple of months ago and a few years ago.  In 2004, News Channel 7 reported that a company working out of a hotel room admitted using the Boys and Girls Club name while selling magazines.  The Better Business Bureau says that company has since shut down. 

Meantime, the Department of Consumer Affairs issued a warning about a door-to-door book selling scam hitting South Carolina.  Officials say as the scam artist go from door to door, they’re learning all of your neighbors names.  By the time they get to your door, they’re mentioning those names to make it sound like they are legitimate.

A victim reported paying $50 for books that never arrived.  And it’s a growing problem.  Said Maria Audus, with the Department of Consumer Affairs, “We’ve been hearing more in the last 6 to 8 months about magazine and book scams.“ 

How can you protect yourself for door to door scams?  Don’t do business on the spot, ask for printed materials and check out the company first, never pay in cash, and never make a payment in the salesperson’s name.