Door To Door Solicitor Possible Scam
I’m going on a limb and saying this is a scam. I’ve never heard of any progam like this and when somebody asks for money right then and there alarm flags go up. Also I don’t know of any school in the area that would try to fund classes in this manner. The following was from a Forest Hill neighbor. If somebody knows that this is legit please let me know ASAP so that I can make corrections. Anybody know anything more or seen this individual?
Just want to let you know that a guy claimed to be a local school teacher was going from door to door to ask for donation to support “problem” students who live along Forest Hill Ave. The donation was for some kind of classes during the holidays to keep the kids out of troubles and out of the street. In the beginning it made a lot of sense and I was almost ready to make my donations until he showed me the price lists. It started off as a $66 to support a single mom and then $110 for 2 kids and up to $199 for 4 kids. I was getting a little skeptical that why would a youth program involve “single” moms and also I was told that I needed to write him a check at the spot because the classes will start next week, etc.That’s when I started to back off the conversations and asked him to come back in 15 minutes and he never returned. He showed me a list of people in the neighborhood who had already made their donations. I wonder if you and anybody you know heard of such program and if it’s legitimate.
Seems shady. Did he say who you should make the check out too?
This guy came to my door last night over on Stonewall. Really nice guy but I politely declined.
I don’t think you’re out on a limb Richard. It sounds like a scam to me. If anyone else is visited, you could ask questions like:
- Where are the classes held?
- Who is running the program and may I call their office (after independently confirming that the phone number corresponds to the stated organization)?
- May I volunteer my time as a tutor over the holidays?
And of course who to make the check out to, as Tijo suggested. Personally I don’t answer the door if I’m not expecting anyone.
Are ANY of these door to door guys legit?
He came by our house on W.42nd St last night. He is a middle aged black man dressed up with a coat and tie. He has a clipboard with a laminated information sheet. He also has a list of local addresses and neighbors, but it could have just been filled out by him. He says the money goes to helping kids from the “ghetto” (his words)get jobs from places like Target. He says he makes them pull their pants up and be accountable for themselves. He asked for a donation similar to the amounts described above. This is a total scam. Kids don’t need to be “sponsored” to work. They can take the bus down there like anyone else without a car. I just told him we couldn’t afford it, just to get him to leave because he is a big talker.
Call the police nonemergency number on this guy if he appears at your house. He’s going to end up scamming someone who is not as savvy as the posters here are (like the sweet little old lady up my block). The police can tell him to move on and/or arrest him as they chose.