Door-to-door alert: Be careful who you let into your building

As a side note to the recent West Seattle door-to-door alerts regarding magazine sellers who may or may not be legit, Ann shares a warning about solicitors in what are supposed to be secure buildings – read on:

Wanted to pass along that one of the magazine sales kids has made it into several security buildings in Admiral. Today he was at our building for the 2nd time – he gains entry by buzzing residents (many in our building are retired) and claiming he is the son of neighbor X or nephew of neighbor X etc. He then goes door to door selling magazines and somehow he knows first and last names of residents, yet this information is posted nowhere on our building. Today on his 2nd visit he claimed to be someone’s grandson, our association president found him in the halls and escorted him to the unit he claimed he was visiting and of course that unit did not know the young guy.

He then went across the street to the apartment building and waited for 3 people to enter and went in with them – I seriously doubt he lives there. When he was here he did flash a wad of personal checks. So, my caution is this – 1) if you have older neighbors alert them to this current scam and 2) just because you’re in a secure building it means nothing to these folks, they can still get in and get your personal info. This was a young guy, pretty clean cut, curly brown hair. This was in Admiral, north of Blockbuster though I don’t really want to publicize our actual address except to the police.

JanS August 25, 2009 (12:17 am)

Thanks for that information. I live in a small secure bldg in the Adm. District (8 apts), and most are at work during the day. I work at home and try to keep a watch on things when I can, so this information is appreciated.

Larry August 25, 2009 (7:22 am)

I sure would like to see door-to-door sales prohibited. I have had them come to my house after dark. I especially worry for the elderly women having to face them.

Dan August 25, 2009 (8:13 am)

Yesterday in North Admiral an attractive well dressed young lady came to our door. Said she was on the West Seattle school soccer team and doing fund raising. She made local small talk, eventually produced sales material similar to what other door to door magazine sellers have shown. I did not believe her pitch, told her we were not interested.

kmo39 August 25, 2009 (1:22 pm)

This same person that visited Ann visited our locked building Monday night (August 24); I’m sure he got quite a haul, telling everyone he was the nephew of one of our residents. Our building is on Harbor Avenue.

lml August 25, 2009 (4:09 pm)

Yesterday, a man walked up to my 92 yo neighbor and offered to help her do yard work. He was doing yard work at another neighbors, which he had done in the past. Yesterday, he did a little bit of hedging so she gave him some cash. The man told many stories about his hard luck life and that he would return in the morning to finish. When he returned today, he said his truck was broke down on 35th and asked her to drive him to get gas. And to get some more money. He got $42 in the end and has not been back.

Todd D August 26, 2009 (9:05 am)

I also live in the Admiral district on Cali Ave.
For the last 5 Saturdays someone has been coming to my door at my unsecured entrance apartment and ringing the bell, which I never answered because I wasn’t expecting any visitors.
I finally went out to see who it was, as I thought it might be someone casing the place out for robbery.
When I get out there and asked him why he kept ringing my doorbell, he said he was trying to sell some comic books…Which I don’t believe since he had nothing on him to carry any or any type of paperwork or bag.
He was also very rude.
When I told him that there is no solicitation at the building he said “There was no sign.” Then when I told him that from now on he can consider it no solicitation he said, “You don’t have to be a Jackass about it…”
He was a white younger adult probably in his early 20’s, about 5″8′ with shorter curly sandy colored hair.
And he did go to the condos next to us and started hitting the keys to talk to someone…similar to what was reported above.
FYI…

37Ray August 26, 2009 (4:15 pm)

I hate to seem hardcore but I put up a big black sign with bold white letters “NO TRESPASSING NO SOLICITING” right on front door, and if anyone comes a knocking I give them a look like they might get a beatdown and ask them immediately for ID. If they turn out legit and produce it I immediately soften my tone and apologize for being blunt upfront, explain the fact there are a lot of fake soliciters around, and then politely decline whatever offer they have. If they are not legit, they have usually taken off running long before we arrive at that point. Sad it has to be like that but there it is.