©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Residents: Watch out for scam
by Kristin Pazulski

Young men claiming to be college students have been hitting the streets of Chestnut Hill and Wyndmoor, going house-to-house to raise money for an educational program in London in what residents suspect is an organized scam.

Two women, who asked not to be named, contacted the Local to report such visits.

Detective Walter Underwood of Springfield Township said this week that there had been several such reports in the township, but that there was no proof of a scam. Any of the men police caught up with were cited for soliciting without a permit, and he said one woman did begin receiving her magazine. He said solicitors gave a magazine company name like “Michigan Precision” in their spiel.

Philadelphia police said they have received no reports on such solicitation.

Township Police Officer John Fitch said spring and summer solicitors are not rare. A few years ago the department warned residents about a group of people that would pull up to a house in a truck and offer to repaint the driveway for a fee. The group would spray the driveway with oil (which makes the driveway appear painted), then drive away, leaving behind a biohazard mess.

A woman who lives in Wyndmoor near the Chestnut Hill line said that a man who looked about 20 came to her door last week selling books that he said would be donated to children. He said he was a student at the Pennsylvania State University and that part of the money would go towards his trip to study on a London campus. She decided that he was a fraud and, after he left, called the Springfield police, who unsuccessfully toured the streets looking for the man.

She said that on that same day, one of her neighbors made out a $175 check to WWC for the young man.

A similar report came from a woman in Chestnut Hill. She said two young men had knocked at her door, individually, on different days. The first she described as a blue-eyed blonde in his mid-20s who gave the name of Trey Holt. He said he was selling magazines to raise money and practice his speaking skills to study at the BBC in London. The details of the educational program were “kind of vague,” the woman said.

The young man told her that she might know his mother, Karen Holt, who lives on Rex Avenue and walks their two yellow Labradors around Chestnut Hill. He presented her with a laminated sheet of magazines, mostly children’s magazines, and said part of the money would go towards his trip and the rest to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She declined to buy any and, she said, he asked her in a “baby voice”: “You’re not mad at me for asking, are you?”

“It was really strange,” the woman said.

He also told her that he had been directed to her door by another resident of her street. She later checked with the neighbor, who told her that he never said such a thing. Her neighbor had given the young man a check for $38, written out to WWC.

Two days later, this same woman opened her door to a young man she said seemed 19 or 20, with brown hair and eyes, who “told almost the same story” under the name Matt Holt. He asked for money for a BBC trip, was selling magazines, and said that his mother, of Rex Avenue, was often seen walking their two Pomeranians.

The woman told “Matt” about “Trey” telling her the same story, except the dogs were yellow Labs, not Pomeranians. “Matt” said “Trey” was his brother, and that he didn’t realize he had already worked the block – saying his brother was supposed to have visited their grandmother’s neighborhood. He also said his family owned the two Labs and the two Pomeranians, as well as a cat, and some wild and domestic rabbits.

“Their stories were so polished, it was amazing … they were very practiced,” said the woman, adding that the young man answered every question without hesitation.

She said the young men looked very different, though they both had Asian symbols tattooed on their forearms – “Trey” had one on the top of his forearm and “Matt” had two on the underside.

Officer Fitch offered tips on what to do when confronted with a solicitor. He said it’s always safer not to answer the door if the person is unrecognizable. Instead of buying whatever they are selling right there on the spot, take their phone number and offer to call later. Fitch said they may try to pressure you, but insist you are not sure if you are interested.

And always keep a barrier between you and the solicitor. If a problem arises or the person is too insistent, call the police.

Contact staff writer Kristin Pazulski at 215-248-8819 or kristin@chestnuthilllocal.com.