Scammed and scared

[Mjmuppet]

So this evening a man came to the door, showed a business card and asked my partner to buy cleaning products, as he was an "ex-convict" going "straight". My partner is forgine and didn't know that this was a scam so he bought some of this overpriced tat.
I'm worried now there was something more sinister going on because he asked if we had any pets while he was giving his whole pitch and now I'm worried they could have been casing our place to burgle us?
Am I being dramatic or are we in danger

I actually think this is legit

We have bought things in the past from the odd bloke who comes to the door. Generally absolute shite at inflated prices but you can’t knock ‘em for trying.

It's probably not legit . It's a common scam and our local police warned people about it themselves recently.

It's not legitimate. They're known as 'Nottingham Knockers'. The Probation Service do not endorse these schemes.

My local police actually issued a warning saying they're not legit as there is not local scheme that does this, which is why I'm worried.

It isn't. No sane business would send people with criminal records to your doors to sell tat you can buy in Poundland.

It's definitely a scam. It is NOT sanctioned by HMPPS or their probation officers and if you call the number they offer you, it'll be their mate who answers.

If you Google ex convict door to door scam you get loads of warnings about it. Id contact your local police to make them aware OP and also your local community via social media if you can.

www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/19389590.warning-doorstep-callers-pretending-ex-convicts/

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/news/beware-of-bogus-doorstep-sellers-posing-as-ex-offenders

I was trying to think what the term was, Norwegian Knockers was what I had in mind 🤦🏽‍♀️

Is it a common scam? To be honest I've never had them come knocking before and have only seen the scam on peep show so didn't even realise it was a real thing 🤦‍♀️

I mean common as in it happens all over the place but like every scam, there's people who don't know about it and scanners rely on those people to make it worth their while.

I've never had any at my door but I live in a rough ish area and know people who have, they do the rounds every now and then, I genuinely think they skip our house because there's a video doorbell on the front door.

That's a good plan, fantastic excuse to get a ring doorbell!

It is common. They work their way around different parts of the country. I've only come across one personally, it's all dependent upon you being home when they call round.
He had a great sales patter until I said I didn't want to buy anything, then his demeanour turned hostile. However other than an unpleasant conversation on my doorstep nothing else came of it, so I wouldn't be too concerned.
If you are worried do an online report to your police force.

They do the rounds here all the time. Definitely a scam. The police are always putting warnings out. They get quite aggressive if you refuse to buy anything

Huh don't know where you are in the country but they sure get about they did our whole town in Northumberland recently

Yes I'll do that and I'll get it on my local community's social media if I can, thanks

That's kinda scary, I'll have to get a camera doorbell so I know when to ignore the knocking and avoid the confrontation 🙃

We're in the West Midlands, but from previous comments it seems they do the rounds to see what money they can get. I hope that's all they do because my anxiety is through the roof 🫣

Check your door for a locksmith sticker. They often use them to mark houses that are of interest, vulnerable people, easy to break in.

I know this because it happened round my way and they did indeed come back. I heard the conversation as they stood on the drive discussing how to get in. Didn't seem to notice the camera above their heads. I was warned about the stickers and thought it odd, but looked and there was one.

People will say this doesn't happen. It does. I peeled the sticker off and stuck it a sheet of paper, still have it somewhere.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24994148

Omg they literally mark your home? Horrendous, I'll have to check my door and windows 🫠

They don't all do it, some of them just sell you overpriced tat and go away. But best to be aware, especially if you do have pets that could be stolen.

In my case the first one came back while later and scanned the car on the drive as well.

My partner check for a sticker and couldn't find anything, hoping we've just lost a bit of money and can move on from this.
After you've said that about the car I'm glad we have a communal parking area, since I live in flat, hopefully they didn't assume a specific car was ours. 😮‍💨

My husband is a sucker, and always ends up buying some over priced shit from them. They’ve never come back. I suspect once they’ve got their money they are happy. Try not to worry!

*come back to rob us, I mean!

Oh really? That a bit of a relief to read. I'm hoping I'm just being dramatic and that it will be the same for us, that they're just happy with selling us overpriced shite.

I got scammed like this years ago and bought some overpriced cleaning products from them.

But they never visited again and we never had a burglary attempt.