Door-to-door sales scams on rise

(WPRI) - The next time you get a knock at your door from a door-to-door salesperson -- you'll want to be aware of scams that could easily fool you.

A knock like that recently interrupted Gretchen Kennedy while she was working from home. When she opened it, she saw two young men on her porch.

"They said that they were selling magazines," said Gretchen, "and I said I wasn't interested and I said that I declined several times."

She finally caved in because they said it would help charter schools. But the magazine never arrived. When she complained, the company never responded.

"It angers me that, that someone would do, pull the fundraising card," said Gretchen.

She fell victim to one of the latest door-to-door sales scams out there.

Carrie Hurt of the Better Business Bureau says they've got plenty of tricks: "They will normally try to pull at your heart strings -- and pull at your purse strings.

"They will use something like, you know, using the safety of your family, your home isn't safe."

The BBB said the number of complaints they received about door-to-door sales more than doubled in a year. In 2010 the BBB got six hundred complaints. In 2011 that number hit 1,300. And, it's up again already for 2012. The consumers say they never got what they paid for, and were victims of aggressive sellers using high pressure tactics.

The newest door-to-door products racking up complaints are:  

• Security systems
• Produce and meats
• Cosmetics
• Cleaning supplies
• Photography sales
• Magazines  

The BBB says if someone knocks on your door trying to sell you something, take their business card, research the company and its products. Tell them you'll call them back if you want to do business.