Door knockers/homeless scheme?

[Calvert]

We had a man knock at our door tonight selling household products, saying he is part of a scheme for the homeless. I got taken in by what he said but I?m worried it?s not genuine - has anyone else had the same tonight? I?m now concerned he might have been scoping out the house and locks.

[alex_b]

They came by ours last night too, I think they come through once every 3-4 months. They usually claim to be a scheme for ex-offenders and can get quite aggressive when you say no to them. I don't think that they're casing the place, but they are certainly not a legitimate organisation.

[Sally Eva]

they are a well-established con. The goods are vastly over-priced and you overpay for them knowingly but thinking you are doing a good deed. They trade on your goodwill. To help ex-offenders (a good cause) try one of these

http://bouncebackproject.com

http://www.unlock.org.uk

https://www.step-together.org.uk/pages/17-supporting-rehabilitation-of-ex-offenders

[Rosetta]

Why do people answer the door to people who are not expected?

[ianr]

There are threads to this effect most years. From a 2012 one ( https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,815659 ):

> This scam has been around for years, don't know if it's still

> the same people. They were operating round here when I moved

> here 20 years ago!

[Sue]

Rosetta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Why do people answer the door to people who are

> not expected?

Because it could be something important?

[AbiL]

Moss: My mum always says: ?Never open the door?. An unopened door is a happy door, so we never answer ours when someone knocks.

Jen: What if it?s good news?

Moss: This is London Jen, it?s not like there?s someone with cake. Unless that cake is made of dog poo and knives.

[ianr]

More likely to be a total stranger or two, beaming at you and saying "How are you doing?"

[Jules-and-Boo]

We will always ask who it is but if it's someone we don't know, we won't open it.

There are surprises we like, but this isn't one of them.

[Jennys]

We had one yesterday who wants to know if others had knocked recently.

[singalto]

If I?m not expecting anyone I tend to open the window upstairs and call out. I once had a duster seller and told him he was the third one that week. He shouted to his mate that I was an f....g stuck up b...h.