What do you all think? Was I duped?

[Guest TankerHC]

A couple of hours ago someone knocked on my door. Someone here looked out, I asked who is it and they said "Some black guy knocking on the door". My first reaction was to holster it, step out the side door and come up to their side and find out what they wanted.

 

First off they were pretty clean cut looking and well dressed for what they were doing. Then they were extremely polite. Asked them what they wanted. Noticed both were carrying paperwork, one had a book full of papers. Thinking "Religious" but it wasnt. They told me right off the bat what they were.

 

Two ex convicts, one had served 7 years and one had served nine. One for drugs and grand theft and one for drugs and something else.

 

First question I asked after hearing that was what do you want around here? The answer sort of surprised me. And yes I was fully on my guard and watching every move closely.

 

These guys are in a program for ex convicts. I think its called KNLU or something but believe from the paperwork I saw that it's part of the RISE program. First they are given housing, then while in housing if they don't have a GED then they are required to get one, while doing that they work towards points by selling magazine subscriptions. (Yea, I know), they have to work towards 20,000 points. When they get to 20,000 that makes them eligible for a grant or small business loan assuming they reach the other goals.. The goal is not to sell magazines, but to learn people skills by interacting with people in the community. I read over their goals and looked at the things they had to do to reach them. The magazine subscriptions were really not important, they had a ton of other things to do. They didn't sell me any magazines, but they did ask a lot of questions and stood around talking for about 25 minutes. Either these guys were the best actors I have ever seen, or were leaning Conservative. They didnt ask personal questions. I told them what I did, and they didnt want to know what money I had or anything like that, they wanted to know how I got there, and I told them.

 

We discussed business, one of them told me 3 times his goal and he intends to reach it. No more drugs, no more crime, no more of that life, they are helping him work towards opening up his own barber shop. He is from St. Louis, his neighborhood is bad, he wants to go back, work for a living and show the kids in his neighborhood that you can make a living by hard work, you don't have to do drugs, they don't have to go down the path he took. WHAT?

 

The other guy was from Chicago, basically the same thing except he was mentoring over the other guy (Learning people skills) and had not decided yet what he was going to do but he was going to try and open a business. He did not want to go back to that life.

 

The one guy who was standing to my left front saw my US Army Retired hat and said "I was in the military, served in Desert Storm". I asked, yea, where, what unit? His answer "To be honest about it I spent most of my time in the Desert locked up in the stockade". Waved his hand and said "I really did nothing, me and other guys locked up"

 

While standing there one guy (The guy to my right front), I never let them make a move without focusing in, started reaching around to his back waist. I damn near went for my gun, but kept an eye and he pulled up his pants and reached in and grabbed his wallet, pulled out a photo of him and his kid and let me know, that's why he's doing it.

 

Now I may sound like a dupe, but if I hear someone like that, straight up and honest about what they had done, what they were trying to do, I could give a rats ass about the color of your skin, if you want to work for a living, keep your kids off the streets and off welfare, and make a better life for your kids, well those were my goals also, and I reached them. And in fact I had a soldier, great soldier, came to me as a PFC right out of basic, his dad was a retired CSM and Dean of Students at a major University. Most hard working private I ever had with me.The day he came to me he let me know, his goal was to be like his dad, he wanted to retire as a Command Sergeant Major, I PCS'd and get a call a month later, he and some other guys were busted crossing the Mexican border with a trunk load of dope, he was also in a gang. no one thought he would ever do anything like that. He called me at Shelby before his Courts Martial, asked me to testify on his behalf as a character witness, told him no. He said he was a good soldier, which he was, but I told him that. you WERE a good solider, good soldiers dont deal in drugs and they arent gang bangers. No one else in the Unit would testify for him, not even his father would testify for him. He was convicted and called me back. Asked me what he was going to do, told him, looks like time. He did his time and calls me again, I told him, your going to have to overcome it on your own, no one is going to do it for you. Today that individual is married with three kids, is a Senior IT Tech for AT&T, and was a tech for a major (Really major) Web Company. He makes a lot of money and did it on his own, so I have no problem with that at all, these guys seemed real, they had questions more than anything, "Where did you work after the Army" told them, how do you move up? Told them. Nothing personal, nothing about what I own, nothing, real questions on really how to make it out there.

 

I know all about the magazine thing, had a nephew I had to get out of jail selling magazines because its illegal in Virginia. He didnt know it and someone called the cops and they arrested him. The magazine thing aside, the thing they were doing was legitimate, their reasons sounded legitimate, the paperwork looked legitimae (Their reciept book was embossed with the organizations name, I havent seen anything like that with just people selling magazines), Im not a pushover and it really seemed to me like these guys had had it with their old lives and wanted to work for something better. If that was the goal, more power to them. It didnt hurt me to speak to them for a few minutes.

 

I told them I wasnt going to buy a magazine, but I would buy them lunch, and they gave me a receipt for tax purposes.

 

So what do you all think? Am I a dupe?

 

On a final note. A while back someone posted that they had seen an NRA sticker somewhere and the conversation came up that it brings unwanted attention. Well these two guys may know I have guns. For one thing even though you couldt tell for sure, I had one on me. Secondly, on that sticker thing I mentioned in the other thread that I had a big one on my front window and was going to scrape it off, I was, never got around to it. Well they saw what was in the photo below, looking at it several times, and I made it clear but subtle, this house is guarded and protected and anyone coming in uninvited with bad intentions will go out feet first and up. And that's the way it is. Period.

 

Think Ill leave the sticker.

 

Edited October 23, 2013 by TankerHC

[Joe357]

Good story, sounds legit to me

[ArmyBrat61]

You are not a dupe....you are Army.....you sound alot like my old man, E6 and damn proud of it. No hand out but a hand up to those that are genuine and repentant. "You made your bed now lay in it, then fix it up behind you....your mess, your consequences......"  I remember him helping alot of his soldiers....but those that lied or shafted him....a two war SFC can really f*&k your life over when you get on his bad side. I am glad you heard them out. Good on you. :usa:

Edited October 23, 2013 by ArmyBrat61

[Smokin45]

Your rendition of the meeting seems solid. The worst that happened is your out lunch money. A good call I think.

[safeandsecure]

Seems to me you handled it well.  IF their intentions were not -- well, not what they seemed, you gave them something to think on.  Best we can do, sometimes.  And thumbs up for buying their lunch; proves not everyone will hold their past against them, long as they are making the effort to get themselves straightened out.

[Monkeyman2500]

Yep had a couple just like that come by yesterday. I'm sorry to say I think it's a scam. Same deal with points and magazines. Told them I would be happy to donate online or by mail, but they said I could not. After they left I found nothing by shady info about the charities online. One was graceful hands and the magazine thing was PF.. something. Anyway I think reputable charities would not do door to door sales. If the guys are legit I wish them luck but I'm not about to just hand out checks at my doorstep. Also it's holiday season with Christmas around the corner and bums come out the woodwork asking for a handout. Do yourself a favor as will I, find a good local children's charity and donate to them its money well spent.

[Raoul]

Trust but verify. Sounds like a load to me. I'm afraid I'm not very kind to anyone who comes to my door unless they're in middle school or younger.

[Guest TankerHC]

Your rendition of the meeting seems solid. The worst that happened is your out lunch money. A good call I think.

 

Afterwards I realized I missed a golden opportunity. Because what they were telling me was right along the lines of how I think. They are convicted felons, so they dont have the right to vote, but I could have spent another half hour, or hour or two or three, explaining to them why what they were saying they wanted to do goes against everything the Left believes in. And why their cities are falling apart, and why their neighborhoods are gang infested, drug infested with people killing each other.

 

Missed that opportunity. If there is a next time, I wont.

[Guest TankerHC]

Yep had a couple just like that come by yesterday. I'm sorry to say I think it's a scam. Same deal with points and magazines. Told them I would be happy to donate online or by mail, but they said I could not. After they left I found nothing by shady info about the charities online. One was graceful hands and the magazine thing was PF.. something. Anyway I think reputable charities would not do door to door sales. If the guys are legit I wish them luck but I'm not about to just hand out checks at my doorstep. Also it's holiday season with Christmas around the corner and bums come out the woodwork asking for a handout. Do yourself a favor as will I, find a good local children's charity and donate to them its money well spent.

 

 

Thats the thing, this isnt a charity. Or I should say I dont consider it a charity, if my tax dollars can go to keeping former hoodlums from staying former hoodlums, good. better than giving them to someone who is lazy and worthless.  Its an ex con work program, checked it out and its legit. Wasnt one particular magazine, bunch of them, they didnt even really try to sell them to me, one question on it, and back to talking business. Here are some of the things in their paperwork. I consider it a "possible". Im not against that, its one of those "maybe" things where at least they werent breaking into my house. If it were a scam, I consider it worth it even if there is a tiny chance to do something. Apparently a lot of the big cities have this now and Goodwill is one of the sponsors that hires. The SBA has a program for this also.

 

• Re-Entry Services Project -Ex-offenders take part in life skills and job readiness workshops that include interviewing skills, resume writing, and job search strategies.
• Industry Specific Initiative, Job preparation, including resume writing, job search skills, and interviewing techniques for people transitioning from welfare to work who have a criminal record. 
• JOBS, working within the Prison System, Prison Society staff teaches life skills and job readiness workshops to people still incarcerated, but for whom release is imminent. Provides support services, job placement and job retention assistance once released.

[Guest TankerHC]

Trust but verify. Sounds like a load to me. I'm afraid I'm not very kind to anyone who comes to my door unless they're in middle school or younger.

 

 

Yea, I get a lot of them, and cant say no. I have cookies, popcorn, flowers and a few other things I cant eat coming soon, as well as raffle tickets to a football game and some other raffle tickets I dont even know what they are, and thats in the last 30 days. My wife says the words out, look to see if I am home and come on over.

 

I guarantee I have met at least half the kids in the neighborhod in the last month, and whats with this bringing over the youngest ones. How can you say no to a 6 year old Brownie (Or whatever she was) selling popcorn?

[TripleDigitRide]

About 15 years ago (I was in my early twenties), a very good looking girl came to the door trying to sell magazines. She was a big flirt, and became an even bigger flirt when I declined to buy any magazines. By time she left, I was writing a check for almost $60, and I had her phone number.

 

The very next evening, her mug, and about a half-dozens others, was plastered all over the 10:00 news for scamming people into buying magazines from a bogus charity or .org. Not surprisingly, I never received the magazines, and the phone number wasn't hers.  :doh:  

 

To this day, I will not buy a magazine from anyone other than a child in my family. And only after I do a thorough background check.  

[Guest CCPT]

It's sad that our society is so full of degenerates that you have to question everyone's legitimacy. I despise door to door sales though. I said I was going to post a "No Solicitation" sign, but my wife called me an idiot.

[Guest TankerHC]

It's sad that our society is so full of degenerates that you have to question everyone's legitimacy. I despise door to door sales though. I said I was going to post a "No Solicitation" sign, but my wife called me an idiot.

 

My neighbor has a no everything sign. no this and no that. I dont think he and his wife ever get bothered.

[Patton]

Sometime back I had the same type of BS fed to me, I almost bought into it. It wasn't a week later I was at my mother's house when the same guys didn't recognize me and told me a completely different story. The, "I was born in Africa and came to America at age 6" must not have been working so they were saying they were "recovering crack addicts". I actually believed the later to be true. You will never get the magazines.

[ted]

I think I would still ck with the police and let them know and see if this program exist and are they aware that it is going on , if it is legit I'm sure the police have been notified way ahead of time , better be safe than sorry.

[Guest TankerHC]

Sometime back I had the same type of BS fed to me, I almost bought into it. It wasn't a week later I was at my mother's house when the same guys didn't recognize me and told me a completely different story. The, "I was born in Africa and came to America at age 6" must not have been working so they were saying they were "recovering crack addicts". I actually believed the later to be true. You will never get the magazines.

 

Didnt sign up for any magazines.

[Sam1]

Magazine thing is an ongoing scam around Nashville.

[tnguy]

Pretty sure the magazine thing is a scam and I think it's as much a scam on the people going door-to-door as the people answering them.

 

I hate having to be a hardarse about all the begging and stuff. I had one of those "I just need some gas" people at the pump at Wal-mart last night and I ended up buying them some just because it was easier than not. Who knows, it might have been legit but I'm sure I'll never hear from them about repaying it. It's annoying because there are people out there who genuinely need help but these grifters have to spoil it.

 

Oh, I consider girl scout cookies as the same thing. The troop gets 50c per box with the balance going to the main organization. Bet they gots them some shiny rims on those Porsches.

Edited October 24, 2013 by tnguy

[Guest Keal G Seo]

Yeah, I have to go with scam. Don't feel bad, while living in Huntsville, AL we fell for it as well. Ordered 3 magazines and never saw the first one. It is a good story and makes you feel good about doing something that is supposedly a hand up instead of a hand out.

[bersaguy]

I think at one time or another everyone will fall for one type of scam or another. All you can do is learn from it and try to never let it happen again............jmho

[Guest TankerHC]

Since the consensus seems to be mixed I'm going to find out. I personally don't think I was duped or scammed. (For one thing I didn't buy anything). But if it were a scam, they will still be here or close by and it will come to an end here. And then I'll say for sure I was....or wasn't.

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[McGarrett]

It's hard to say, lots of scammers out there now days. I catch myself being a little too cynical sometimes. I think you did the right thing by talking with them and sometimes some positive encouragement could make a big difference to someone who is down and trying to work their way back up.

 

I they are scamming people they will be the ones who have to live with what they do. It is hard to believe that people still go door to door now days. I would not want to go around knocking on doors asking for money or whatever.

 

I'm lucky I guess, I do not get a lot of people at my door since I live out in a rural area, long winding driveway. Just the local rescue squad fund raiser once a year and the Jehovah's Witnesses. The rescue squad is legit and the Jehovah's Witnesses only stay for a minute and drop off a pamphlet. One time the Jehovah's Witnesses pulled up and I had the chainsaw in my hand after cutting a limb that was hanging down where I mow along the woods. I was thinking it was too bad I didn't have a hockey mask close by to put on quick. All joking aside they are nice people and although I am not a member of their faith I do respect their devotion to what they believe in. Still i would prefer to be left alone.