Originally published at http://www.ksusentinel.com/news/2004/02/24/News/DoorToDoor.Scams.Magazine.Sales.At.University.Place-617065.shtmlReproduced here without permission under the Fair Use Doctrine.
By Richard L. Johnson, Assistant Photo Editor
Published: Tuesday, February 24, 2004
KSU police issued criminal trespass warnings to employees of Fidelity Reader Service, Inc. for selling magazines door-to-door at University Place Apartments on Jan 26. According to the police report, Jesse Cartlidge, 23, and James Crawford, 19, were "trying to sell magazine subscriptions to win a contest."
Employees from the same company drew the attention of Columbus, GA police Jan. 22 when they were selling magazines door-to-door to raise money for Columbus State University. The problem? CSU officials had never heard of them.
John Lester, director of public relations for Columbus State, said CSU never collects money door-to-door and the university was not associated with FRS. Lester said the CSU police department contacted FRS regarding the use of the university's name.
KSU Police were not aware if the FRS solicitors at University Place claimed to be collecting money for KSU. However, Police Chief Ted Cochran doubts the legitimacy of these types of groups.
"It's been our experience in the past that folks show up to [sell magazines], the intended purpose or what they lead you to believe is not really what happens as far as the money is concerned."
Kaye Anderson, of Student Life, said no door-to-door solicitors are allowed on campus.
Off campus, the laws regarding door-to-door solicitation vary, but most cities and counties require salespeople to obtain a permit.
While officers were dealing with FRS employees at University Place, City of Kennesaw police officers were removing two different FRS solicitors from St. Charles Apartments, a community near KSU on McCollum Parkway. These two solicitors were selling magazines without permits.
How far will door-to-door solicitors go to make a sale? People have reported that some solicitors are pushy, rude and sometimes even assault their potential buyers. Arrests of door-to-door magazine solicitors from various companies have been for a range of crimes, including murder. Some FRS employees have also had run-ins with the law:
In 2001, Spokane, Wash. sheriff's deputies arrested an FRS employee for criminal trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect let himself into a woman's home and then refused to leave. The subject then began to ask the resident about her love life and smoking marijuana. The suspect left before deputies arrived but was located nearby.
Earlier the same day, Spokane deputies arrested another FRS employee for stealing a woman's purse from her car. The woman had parked in her garage and was unloading groceries when he took the purse.
In 2002, Nicholas Kuhlman, also an FRS employee, pled guilty to sexual indecency with a 6 year old girl in Fayetteville, Ark. According to The Morning News, Kuhlman "exposed himself to the girl and engaged in an indecent sexual act."
Chief Cochran encourages all students to contact the university police to check the validity of solicitors when they are encountered.
"Never think that anyone who walks up to you in a parking lot or is coming through your dorm is legitimate."
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