Journalists..... advice

[jampot]

Today I had a man knocking at my door saying he was a reporter from a well known national tabloid and needed to interview a family living in a semi detached in my area. He wanted to bring a man (ex thief apparently on tv show) with him to assess the security on my house and then do a piece about how I could improve my security arrangements. He showed me his ID card and gave me a business card but both looked so bland I'm sure I could have done the same on my computer.
He wanted to pay me £150 but I wouldn't do it as (a) wasn't sure it was above board; and (b) would definitely not want my picture in paper.
Is this normal practice? Sorry to be naive. By the way I sent him to my pal's house and she was more than happy to do it.

Oo-er. Think I would have been equally sceptical, jampot. Have you tried phoning/emailing the paper he was supposed to be from to see if he's legit?

I would phone the paper, does sound slightly dodgy to me.

agree with all previous posts
i would also suggest to your friend that you are concerned about whether they were legit

Scam I reckon. I'd tell your friend you've since become suspicious.

He was probably genuine IMO. Why not call the paper to find out? Tabloid staff tend to do quite a lot of doorstepping, it wouldn't be unusual just to turn up. I can understand your doubt though.

Update on this thread. I didn't go ahead with this reporter as I said but signposted him to a friend's house (with her permission first). Anyway yesterday afternoon as I went out to collect kiddies from school I locked up and left the house. Came back and I couldn't find my house key. I searched high and low, tipped my bag out, looked under the car, retraced my steps - everything. In the end I decided I must have dropped it on the drive and someone must have picked it up. Called locksmith and he came round to relieve me of quite a bit of money and change the lock. Hands up who thinks I should have had security assessment!!!!!?

Aaaagh - not a scam - friend featured in The Sun today but seriously p*ed off as the ex thief drew a symbol used by conmen and thieves to indicate single mum & easy target on her wall - she wasn't told what it meant and found out this evening after visiting poorly son in hosp when reading paper.

thats dreadful
i cant believe people do that symbol thing
what is the symbol?!?

The symbols vary depending on the circumstances apparently. There is a symbol for "nothing worth nicking", "single woman", "easy target", etc. The symbols are drawn in chalk either on the wall of the house or on the pavement (I think) outside the house.Basically if you see a symbol wash it off straight away.

In addition to below, my pal rang the Editor of said newspaper to express her annoyance and is now having a house alarm fitted next week!!!

I dont get this story! someone help a bear of very little brain..

.

What's not to get Coddy ?

I found a list of hobo signs for anyone who's curious enough (like me who just spent ages googling for them grin)

Might be different here though as these were US based. I was just bored...

hobo signs

So now when we see chalk on the pavements we are all going to get paraniod and be out with our scrubbing brushes!

lol I was just thinking that - we'll probably really piss off all the gas and water boards - they use chalk quite a bit don't they?

Those hobo signs were quite fascinating. I didn't know they existed. Scary though, woman alone and all that. I wonder if the signs on pavements using car spray paint are all official ie: gas/water etc. Makes you wonder.

Sorry haven't been on here for a few days. The guy who chalked these marks was an ex-burglar who presents "To Catch a Thief" on tv. He did it to illustrate the sort of marks which can be left by burglars after "casing a joint". The Sun published some of the marks a couple of weeks ago.

Sorry haven't been on here for a few days. The guy who chalked these marks was an ex-burglar who presents "To Catch a Thief" on tv. He did it to illustrate the sort of marks which can be left by burglars after "casing a joint". The Sun published some of the marks a couple of weeks ago.