Notice to the public: For several years boys have been going door-to-door selling merchandise which they say is for Troop 98, Troop 31, or Pack 31. None of these groups sell anything except Scout Skill Show tickets, which they hand to you when they accept your dollar. Should any of these groups decide to earn money another way, notice will be given in the Paper. The boys, from a neighborhood family, have been selling fictitious merchandise for several years, and with great success. They are con-artists. Their parents have been approached, but either cannot or will not do anything, except cover for them. The Juvenile Officers at the Seventh Police District know the boys well, but the dollar you give to these boys is hard to trace. Several rules are suggested to combat this rip-off. In following these rules you will make it difficult for honest groups, but they are rules which honest groups can follow. 1, give money only in exchange for merchandise, and not in exchange for promises; 2, get the name and address of the person and check in the phone book to see if the address is correct [the two boys give the right name, but the wrong address); 3, if you don’t know the child, demand organizational identification and check it out with his scout leader, it will only take a second; and, 4, these boys have been known to be physical, so be careful and prudent if admitting them to your home.
Originally published in The Paper, March 1975.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1975_03.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
