2008-12-05, 05:28 AM
Today, I heard a knock at the door.
I went at got it and I saw a cheery, 6 foot tall, frail ish looking man, with dark skin.
I was slightly afraid because well, what was he doing here?
I inquired to who he was.
He said he was a 19 year old boy from an organization who takes in kids from innercity slums and keeps them away from drugs and sex and instead lets them sell magazine subscriptions.
I was home alone at the time.
However, being naive, I told him that I was interested in his organization. I didn't let him come in my house, but I asked him a few questions about it. He said they moved around all year and sold these subscriptions and recruited workers. Sounded innocent enough to me. Also, he looked like a very happy person so I relaxed a little bit.
Now I knew I couldn't buy any of these, but I knew that my mom was about to come home (she had gone for groceries) and that she could probably purchase some of his worthwhile cause.
So I told him to wait, and I chatted with him a little bit. He seemed decent, however a little bit jumpy maybe. Didn't seem to be on a schedule, and was filling out some papers.
He told me how that if he sold magazines, he'd get "points" and that went towards a scholarship. Now I thought that was dandy and said that I would definitely try to get my mom to help. He told me about all the other neighbors he had gone to and who had bought from him, and how it was a great idea.
So my mom comes home, sees a big man in the doorway with me in front, and starts screaming.
Which is the natural thing to do. I would do the same if I saw a relative of mine being so stupid.
So she comes and half yells at him to promptly leave the property. I try to explain, but he quickly leaves.
My mom starts yelling at me, but ends up crying. She was scared, just like I had originally been. This man could have been a pedofile, rapist, or murderer, and I was dumb enough to answer and even TALK to him.
But I felt really bad. I wanted him to get some money for that scholarship. She agreed that if he came back she'd purchase something, and we cooled down after the fright. She wasn't mad anymore - just scared.
Now I started to have a feeling of guilt. I shouldn't even have had it - I juts felt bad that I made him stand there waiting for nothing except a yelling mom.
So I went online and tried to recall what his organization was called. Something like freedom subscription. Google'd, nothing of interest came up.
So I typed "Magazine door to door sellers"
I get a whole slew of "WATCH OUT FOR THIS SCAM" things.
I suddenly feel like the biggest idiot. I read them, and I'm scared to death for myself.
These organizations are ex-cons who have no way to get money. These "recruiters" put ads in the paper saying "Travel abraod, and get paid!"
These ex-cons sign up, thinking for a free travel oppurtunity. They get forcefully recruited into a job that takes them around the US, doing this work, 9 hours a day. If they do not meet their quota, they don't get fed. They are abused and sexually molested a LOT of the time.
Then I continued to read that they fake everything. I read multiple stories of kids who "wanted to pay for scholarship" or "wanted to travel abroad."
I'm literally shaking in my seat. I have a strange feeling now that at any moment this weirdo scam artist could pop through my door and just kill me. It's paranoia or trauma, I'm guessing.
Finally, I read they sell these subscriptions and usually magazines never get sent to you anways - and guess what. They spend the money on drugs.
I carefully think about what I had gone through. I remembered he was a bit jumpy. Was he on drugs... right when he was talking to me?
I'm scared, guys. This realy have emotionally scarred me, seriously. I have the strangest feeling he's like, watching me now.
I'm freaked out. I'm sorry for venting at you, I'm just really scared.
Thanks for reading.
I went at got it and I saw a cheery, 6 foot tall, frail ish looking man, with dark skin.
I was slightly afraid because well, what was he doing here?
I inquired to who he was.
He said he was a 19 year old boy from an organization who takes in kids from innercity slums and keeps them away from drugs and sex and instead lets them sell magazine subscriptions.
I was home alone at the time.
However, being naive, I told him that I was interested in his organization. I didn't let him come in my house, but I asked him a few questions about it. He said they moved around all year and sold these subscriptions and recruited workers. Sounded innocent enough to me. Also, he looked like a very happy person so I relaxed a little bit.
Now I knew I couldn't buy any of these, but I knew that my mom was about to come home (she had gone for groceries) and that she could probably purchase some of his worthwhile cause.
So I told him to wait, and I chatted with him a little bit. He seemed decent, however a little bit jumpy maybe. Didn't seem to be on a schedule, and was filling out some papers.
He told me how that if he sold magazines, he'd get "points" and that went towards a scholarship. Now I thought that was dandy and said that I would definitely try to get my mom to help. He told me about all the other neighbors he had gone to and who had bought from him, and how it was a great idea.
So my mom comes home, sees a big man in the doorway with me in front, and starts screaming.
Which is the natural thing to do. I would do the same if I saw a relative of mine being so stupid.
So she comes and half yells at him to promptly leave the property. I try to explain, but he quickly leaves.
My mom starts yelling at me, but ends up crying. She was scared, just like I had originally been. This man could have been a pedofile, rapist, or murderer, and I was dumb enough to answer and even TALK to him.
But I felt really bad. I wanted him to get some money for that scholarship. She agreed that if he came back she'd purchase something, and we cooled down after the fright. She wasn't mad anymore - just scared.
Now I started to have a feeling of guilt. I shouldn't even have had it - I juts felt bad that I made him stand there waiting for nothing except a yelling mom.
So I went online and tried to recall what his organization was called. Something like freedom subscription. Google'd, nothing of interest came up.
So I typed "Magazine door to door sellers"
I get a whole slew of "WATCH OUT FOR THIS SCAM" things.
I suddenly feel like the biggest idiot. I read them, and I'm scared to death for myself.
These organizations are ex-cons who have no way to get money. These "recruiters" put ads in the paper saying "Travel abraod, and get paid!"
These ex-cons sign up, thinking for a free travel oppurtunity. They get forcefully recruited into a job that takes them around the US, doing this work, 9 hours a day. If they do not meet their quota, they don't get fed. They are abused and sexually molested a LOT of the time.
Then I continued to read that they fake everything. I read multiple stories of kids who "wanted to pay for scholarship" or "wanted to travel abroad."
I'm literally shaking in my seat. I have a strange feeling now that at any moment this weirdo scam artist could pop through my door and just kill me. It's paranoia or trauma, I'm guessing.
Finally, I read they sell these subscriptions and usually magazines never get sent to you anways - and guess what. They spend the money on drugs.
I carefully think about what I had gone through. I remembered he was a bit jumpy. Was he on drugs... right when he was talking to me?
I'm scared, guys. This realy have emotionally scarred me, seriously. I have the strangest feeling he's like, watching me now.
I'm freaked out. I'm sorry for venting at you, I'm just really scared.
Thanks for reading.
