Getting some chatter from the newsgroups, which started out with this message:
We just had a young man stop by our house at then end of Woodglen Lane and it was a little odd. First, he walked by two private driveway/no trespassing signs. Then when my husband asked him what he was doing, he said he had business at our uphill neighbors (he then rang doorbells to no avail). Then he denied selling anything but said it was advertising (is there a difference?). I asked for a card and some paperwork but he wouldn't provide any. He was asking a lot of questions about our house, who we were, etc. But when I asked for a contact number or his last name, he wouldn't give it to us.
In case you see him, he is caucasian, sandy blond/brown hair, beefy build. He had a white polo shirt with GE logo on one arm and a siren logo on the other. I'm not sure what he was selling.
Maybe it's nothing, but it struck us as odd because we just couldn't get him to leave!
Other messages have come in: this guy has been spotted parked at Tanoble and Loma Alta, and knocked on a door at Pinecrest, offering an alarm system upgrade. One of the neighbors said that the sheriffs have been notified, but he's not doing anything illegal. He could just be a very bad salesman ... but he doesn't want to offer information about his business or contact info. Something to be aware of.
UPDATE 7/18 6 PM: Getting a few other reports of this guy. One homeowner found this website to contact GE Security to see if he's legit.
But our independent research is showing that there are "security system" scams going on around the country. One variation is talking to two salesmen, and as you're engaged with one, the other disappears for awhile -- because he's opening your drawers, etc. and grabbing what he can. Or the salesman will sell you an overpriced system, promise you a free system or lock you into an expensive long-term contract, or promise a substantial rebate that never gets delivered. Another variation is to charge a substantial amount for a system that gets installed quickly and shabbily -- sometimes within the hour.
Sometimes the scamsters will claim to be from legitimate security firms, like GE, so it always pays to be cautious.
