Watch out for a slick con going door-to-door

(WXYZ) - They are convincing, and well trained to spot someone sympathetic to their claims, and to the sales pitch that makes you want to buy.

The victims were all impressed with the sharp young person who came to their homes trying to convince them to buy magazines, either for themselves or a local charity.

Kristin Dwyer says, "They said what they were doing was collecting money so they could purchase books to send to the sick children at the hospital."

Professor Henry Greenspan says he was happy to help, even if they didn't need magazines for themselves.

But when he looked online and discovered the bad reputation of the California sales company Hand-Up Distribution the well spoken young man represented, he moved quickly to try to get a refund for his $120.

Months later and still no refund. And all attempts to get someone at the company to even answer the phone, much less send money back to victims, was a joke!

On the Better Business Bureau web site, the companies "F" rating is what more people should see before they consider a similar purchase from a door to door salesperson.

The Better Business Bureau says anytime you have a door to door salesman in your neighborhood knocking on your door, the first thing you want to ask them is have they gotten their proper licencing..

The city of Ann Arbor had not granted solicitation licenses for Hand-Up distribution, and Mott Children's Hospital, where the salesman claimed Professor Greenspan's magazines would go to little patients? They never heard of them.

Two customers who lost their money both feel they were conned.

They're now angry or disappointed.

Dwyer cancelled her check in time, but learned a lesson for other homeowners.

Dwyer says, "And then said to them as they left, if this is a scam I'm gonna have a really good laugh about this. And they turned around and laughed too and I thought we were laughing for different reasons."

Losing money to salespeople representing unscrupulous companies is no laughing matter.

The Better Business Bureau suggests that you simply don't let a smooth talking door-to-door salesperson pressure you into a quick decision to buy magazines or anything else.

The BBB says, instead, you should ask for written literature on the company, and have the salesperson come back if you're interested at all.

Take the time to do some research, before you write the check.