Got hit with the Dawn dish soap scam

[Retired W4]

I was sitting on my front porch when a small white Toyota pulled up in front of my mail box for a few seconds then pulled into my driveway. A young girl, about 19 or so, gets out of the passenger side and starts up the walk way, babbling as she came up the steps. She walked right up to me holding a large bottle of Dawn. She said I didn't have to buy any thing but if I let her vacuum my carpet or clean something she will get $25 towards her scholarship. I politely declined her BS offer but she was very persistent and said she could come back Tuesday or Wednesday. (trying to determine when I might not be home?) Told her if she came back she would be wasting her time because the answer would be the same. NO! The continued her disjointed pitch but finally gave up and went back to the car. Then the driver got out and walked up the steps and up to where I was sitting. He wanted to go into the house to vacuum the carpet too Who vacuums your carpet he asked. Answer, my wife and I. Oh, your wife lives here too? I'm smelling a rat and it stinks. He finally gives up and they drive out of my cul de sac without stopping at any other houses.

I told my wife about it and she does an internet search on the subject. To our surprise, the Dawn dish soap scam is all over the country, with a few minor variations. They want to get inside your house to case the joint, simple as that. These two were not convincing at all. In fact I could tell they were both blowing smoke from the start. For a moment I thought about shifting my seating position to reveal the little 317 in my right pocket but decided against it.

This used to be a quiet neighborhood but the crazies are are creeping up on us.

 

[Chuck24]

Well, since they hardly print magazines anymore, even the fraudsters have to adapt

 

[DEF3]

Tom, do you need your 28 back?

 

[Rustyt1953]

Gone but not forgotten are encyclopedia sales people, the Fuller brush man, the Kirby sales guy, magazine subscriptions and GRIT (which I sold from my bike).

Can't forget mom hosting Tupperware parties.

 

[Gunsquirrel]

Should have pulled out the cell phone and snapped a picture or two and share with the local PD..Be careful the next few nights Tom, all the rats come from up north Jersey and NY after dark for the home invasions & high end car thefts

 

[lihpster]

You need to adapt your porch sitting routine. it should be more like these two guys.

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

I was sitting on my front porch when a small white Toyota pulled up in front of my mail box for a few seconds then pulled into my driveway. A young girl, about 19 or so, gets out of the passenger side and starts up the walk way, babbling as she came up the steps. She walked right up to me holding a large bottle of Dawn. She said I didn't have to buy any thing but if I let her vacuum my carpet or clean something she will get $25 towards her scholarship. I politely declined her BS offer but she was very persistent and said she could come back Tuesday or Wednesday. (trying to determine when I might not be home?) Told her if she came back she would be wasting her time because the answer would be the same. NO! The continued her disjointed pitch but finally gave up and went back to the car. Then the driver got out and walked up the steps and up to where I was sitting. He wanted to go into the house to vacuum the carpet too Who vacuums your carpet he asked. Answer, my wife and I. Oh, your wife lives here too? I'm smelling a rat and it stinks. He finally gives up and they drive out of my cul de sac without stopping at any other houses.

I told my wife about it and she does an internet search on the subject. To our surprise, the Dawn dish soap scam is all over the country, with a few minor variations. They want to get inside your house to case the joint, simple as that. These two were not convincing at all. In fact I could tell they were both blowing smoke from the start. For a moment I thought about shifting my seating position to reveal the little 317 in my right pocket but decided against it.

This used to be a quiet neighborhood but the crazies are are creeping up on us.

No such thing as a quiet neighborhood these days, I'm afraid.

 

[14daMoney]

I was sitting on my front porch when a small white Toyota pulled up in front of my mail box for a few seconds then pulled into my driveway. A young girl, about 19 or so, gets out of the passenger side and starts up the walk way, babbling as she came up the steps. She walked right up to me holding a large bottle of Dawn. She said I didn't have to buy any thing but if I let her vacuum my carpet or clean something she will get $25 towards her scholarship. I politely declined her BS offer but she was very persistent and said she could come back Tuesday or Wednesday. (trying to determine when I might not be home?) Told her if she came back she would be wasting her time because the answer would be the same. NO! The continued her disjointed pitch but finally gave up and went back to the car. Then the driver got out and walked up the steps and up to where I was sitting. He wanted to go into the house to vacuum the carpet too Who vacuums your carpet he asked. Answer, my wife and I. Oh, your wife lives here too? I'm smelling a rat and it stinks. He finally gives up and they drive out of my cul de sac without stopping at any other houses.

I told my wife about it and she does an internet search on the subject. To our surprise, the Dawn dish soap scam is all over the country, with a few minor variations. They want to get inside your house to case the joint, simple as that. These two were not convincing at all. In fact I could tell they were both blowing smoke from the start. For a moment I thought about shifting my seating position to reveal the little 317 in my right pocket but decided against it.

This used to be a quiet neighborhood but the crazies are are creeping up on us.

Just adopt a more direct approach - - -

get off my lawn - Google Search

 

[Rustyt1953]

No such thing as a quiet neighborhood these days, I'm afraid.

‘Au contraire mon frere’.​

My neighborhood is the very definition of serenity and tranquility.

 

[.38SuperMan]

Last year I had an interesting encounter with a sales person who wouldn't leave. I had just returned home from the range and was unloading things from the back of my car and my garage door was open. I was in the middle of unloading the car when a young Hispanic male dressed in a knit shirt with a business logo and a hat with the same logo and a clip board approached. He approached me but was still in my driveway when I asked him if I could help him. It was obvious he was selling something and I asked what he was selling. He responded that he wasn’t selling anything and said he was new in the community and wanted to know if I could recommend a good church. I told him my wife and I used to attend one in a nearby town where we had lived but when we moved it was just too far to drive. He persisted and I said there is a church on every corner and I couldn’t recommend one because I didn’t know anything about his faith or him.

I then confronted him asking what he’s selling and he again said nothing but started to walk into my garage. I told him I was armed and it wouldn’t be a good idea to walk any farther into my garage or he would regret his decision.

We exchanged words and laughed at me and I informed him there’s a sign at the entrance of the subdivision prohibiting solicitation and told him to leave or I’d call the police and he finally did.

I went ahead and called the police and reported the incident. The police arrived within a couple of minutes and asked a few questions. The police officers drove away then one returned about 5 minutes later. The officers partner was detaining two young men working my neighborhood and the officer asked what I’d like them to do with the two men. I said I thought a warning would be in order and he agreed.

We live in a small community and the police really look out for the residents. They patrol all the neighborhoods and if you call them and tell them you’ll be on vacation they’ll add patrols to check your house.

 

[dben002]

I have become overly jaded the past 7 years and now consider EVERYTHING a scam until proven otherwise....snail mail, email, text, phone calls and door bell ringers although we don't get bell ringers anymore..Don't answer phone calls unless I know you, delete text unless you are on my contact list, all my mail is junk as I am paperless for everything...

Probably have missed one or two valid deals along the way but it's my way.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

You need to adapt your porch sitting routine. it should be more like these two guys.
View attachment 755692

Second Hand Lions...........One of the best movies out there.

 

[gmarshall99]

Y neighborhood was visiter weekly by Solar salespeople for a while. Lawncare people this time of year.

 

[ladder13]

We have real hardwood floors throughout.

 

[biku324]

Gone but not forgotten are encyclopedia sales people, the Fuller brush man, the Kirby sales guy, magazine subscriptions and GRIT (which I sold from my bike).

Can't forget mom hosting Tupperware parties.

More negatively, a friend of ours for 50 years shared that her mother spilled on her deathbed that the middle sister actually was sired by a traveling salesman - her siblings had teased her for years about being adopted because she looked like none of the rest. No one knew.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Y neighborhood was visiter weekly by Solar salespeople for a while. Lawncare people this time of year.

Yesterday I was sitting on my porch when two polite young men wearing matching green polos and ball caps walked up to me. They were offering me their lawn care services.

I commended them for their go getum attitude.

I said: " see my lawn?"

"Yes sir, it looks great."

"Indentured grandson"

 

[14daMoney]

Last year I had an interesting encounter with a sales person who wouldn't leave. I had just returned home from the range and was unloading things from the back of my car and my garage door was open. I was in the middle of unloading the car when a young Hispanic male dressed in a knit shirt with a business logo and a hat with the same logo and a clip board approached. He approached me but was still in my driveway when I asked him if I could help him. It was obvious he was selling something and I asked what he was selling. He responded that he wasn’t selling anything and said he was new in the community and wanted to know if I could recommend a good church. I told him my wife and I used to attend one in a nearby town where we had lived but when we moved it was just too far to drive. He persisted and I said there is a church on every corner and I couldn’t recommend one because I didn’t know anything about his faith or him.

I then confronted him asking what he’s selling and he again said nothing but started to walk into my garage. I told him I was armed and it wouldn’t be a good idea to walk any farther into my garage or he would regret his decision.

We exchanged words and laughed at me and I informed him there’s a sign at the entrance of the subdivision prohibiting solicitation and told him to leave or I’d call the police and he finally did.

I went ahead and called the police and reported the incident. The police arrived within a couple of minutes and asked a few questions. The police officers drove away then one returned about 5 minutes later. The officers partner was detaining two young men working my neighborhood and the officer asked what I’d like them to do with the two men. I said I thought a warning would be in order and he agreed.

We live in a small community and the police really look out for the residents. They patrol all the neighborhoods and if you call them and tell them you’ll be on vacation they’ll add patrols to check your house.

Regarding "homes vacant during vacation, or any time for that matter" for what it's worth - don't light up the outside of your property so bright that you can't actually see the house. If the lights are too bright any police patrolling won't be able to see anyone hiding or wandering on the property. Signs saying "Beware of Dogs" are great also, even when you don't have any, who's to know until it's too late ...

 

[Tom S.]

Regarding "homes vacant during vacation, or any time for that matter" for what it's worth - don't light up the outside of your property so bright that you can't actually see the house. If the lights are too bright any police patrolling won't be able to see anyone hiding or wandering on the property. Signs saying "Beware of Dogs" are great also, even when you don't have any, who's to know until it's too late ...

Forget the dog, beware of owner.

 

[14daMoney]

Forget the dog, beware of owner.

I'm a firm believer in this - first time, every time. You should never have to repeat yourself ..... unless you just want to

 

[tires2burn]

I remember back in Nebraska when I was a kid my dad telling my mom not to buy anything from the traveling salesmen because they would mark the curb for every guy coming through town.