Warning: Don't Open the Door to Magazine Sellers for Unlimited Sales, Inc

As I write this, I'm just starting to shake off the adrenaline rush that came from kicking an Unlimited Sales, Inc. door-to-door salesperson out of my house after coming dangerously close to writing a check for a magazine subscription.

So here's what happened to me, including the five mistakes that I made and the one good decision that saved me.

Mistake #1: Opening the Door

I was sitting at my computer writing articles when a knock came at the door. I don't get a lot of visitors, so I was pleasantly surprised to see a young woman about my age waiting for me to answer. I opened the door wide (mistake #1) and started talking to her.

At first, she didn't even mention magazine sales. Instead, she talked about how she was trying to raise money for college by collecting "points." She had the potential to make $10,000, and even win a trip to the Bahamas if she did well.

Mistake #2: Letting the Magazine Seller In

She did all the right things: asked me about my life, got me talking, made good conversation, and eventually asked if she could come in. I said yes (mistake #2). She sat at my counter and continued to talk, and then handed me a laminated flyer with magazine covers on it.

At this point, I smiled to myself and thought, "I see what's going on here. I'm on a tight budget, no way am I going to buy anything." She continued talking, though, and I got distracted from my resolution to politely turn her down.

Mistake #3: Changing My Mind

She looked around, and commented on a Rachel Ray cookbook I had on my counter. "Why not get the Everyday with Rachel Ray magazine?" she said with bright eyes and a huge smile. And suddenly, something changed in me that made we want to help her, and made me want to buy something (mistake #3).

Mistake #4: Getting Out My Checkbook

I left her alone in my kitchen to go get my checkbook (mistake #4). When she wrote out the price of the magazine, I was surprised to see a $60 charge for 20 issues. I know that magazines offer deals all the time, and you can often get a subscription for $10 or less. However, I was sold at this point, and started to write out the check.

Mistake #5: Letting Her Use My Phone

Then, the young woman asked to use my phone so she could let her supervisor know that she was okay, because supposedly it was "past her check-in time." I let her (mistake #5). She called what I later realized to be a Las Vegas number, spoke briefly, and hung up.

The Good Decision: Getting a Second Opinion

The phone thing was weird, and it made something click inside me. Earlier in the day, I had checked on whether an online writing opportunity was a scam, and I decided to do the same thing with the "opportunity" this woman was presenting me with. I asked if I could check out her company online, and she said sure, and gave me the company's web address. I entered the address, knowing full well it would tell me nothing, and then entered a search for the company's name in a new tab. Sure enough, the screen filled with scam reports. I started to shake as I realized how close I had come to being had.

I turned and informed the woman that I knew the company was a scam in a voice that trembled with rage. She made a lame attempt at denying it, but she knew the game was up, and quickly left. After that, I called the police department, and they sent someone over to talk with me. Unfortunately, they couldn't do much because I hadn't actually given the woman any money, but it felt good to share my story.

Parting Thoughts on the Almost-Scammed Experience

Right now I feel sick thinking of all the things that could have gone wrong, and all the things that could still turn out badly. The woman managed to get my phone number and signature before I found her out, and also used my phone to call someone who I don't know.

In an ideal world, we wouldn't have to worry about people coming to our doors trying to defraud us, but because this isn't an ideal world, I hope that other people can learn from my mistakes. Please be careful when inviting strangers into your home, and be extra careful about buying things sold door-to-door.

For more information on this and other magazine scams, visit these sites:

Door-to-door magazine sellers a scam, police say

Unlimited Sales, Inc. Complaints - Fraud and cheating

Door to Door Magazine sales is a dangerous scam