What's the Scam Here? Someone Comes to the Door...

[cookie-monster]

and asks if they can mow the lawn for $20. Happened 3 times in the past 6 weeks or so. Not one of the three has had a lawnmower. Last one (tonight) came at nearly 9pm, so it was already getting dark (in Edmonton). Rode off on his bike when we said no (note: didn't ask next door).

How often has this happened to people? Just feels kinda odd that we've had them come to our house 3 times in a 6 weeks. Is the scam to do with getting inside the house, seeing what's worth stealing? Or something else?

[najibs]

It's called kids trying to make some extra bux. If you pay them after the lawn is mowed...how can you be scammed?

[cookie-monster]

Not kids. These are older guys, one of them looked like a homeless guy. And there's no lawnmower in sight.

So, am I being paranoid?

[Mad.Whack]

Not kids. These are older guys, one of them looked like a homeless guy. And there's no lawnmower in sight.

So, am I being paranoid?

He (or they) might want to rob your place and are checking if you are home.... Or you're just paranoid ;)

[najibs]

Not kids. These are older guys, one of them looked like a homeless guy. And there's no lawnmower in sight.

So, am I being paranoid?

The mower might be ina pickup truck on another end of the street, meanwhile they go door to door trying to find who needs their lawn mowed. Tell them to mow the lawn, and you'll pay them once it's done. Simple.
Plus, don't expect someone coming to mow your lawn to be dressed in a suit, so just because they're dressed shaggy doesn't mean they're homeless.

[cko64]

One winter, three kids came to my door and asked if I want my sidewalk shovelled for $5. I said sure.

Five minutes later, they rang my door bell. I saw the sidewalk was done. I handed them a five dollar bill. They said...Five dollars EACH! $15 for 5 minute job. Smart kids. Fooled me once.

[najibs]

One winter, three kids came to my door and asked if I want my sidewalk shovelled. I said sure.

Five minutes later, they rang my door bell. I saw the sidewalk was done. I handed them a five dollar bill. They said...Five dollars EACH! $15 for 5 minute job. Smart kids. Fooled me once.

now that's sleeazy tactics...I wonder if the parents taught them that. It's tough to be rude to a little kid though, but if a teen or grown up did that to me, I'd most certainly tell them off.

[Carnage]

Should have ripped the $5 bill in 3 pieces and given each of them 1/3rd. ;)

[dealguy2]

Total scam. Lock up your siznit.

[TrevorK]

He might have been expecting to use your mower?

[hugh_da_man]

isn't that the scam where they overpower whoever opens the door and then home invasion you?

The next time you open the door there will be two of them and they'll rush you.

[Flyer]

Did he start off with "Dearest Friend, my father is Nigerian royalty..."?

[TapemanPL]

well maybe they were planning on getting a couple of people that looked like they needed their lawn mowed to agree so that they could do everyone the next day when they do bring the mower, but it does seem kinda fishy since they would come so late when some people would just get pissed

[aquariaguy]

and asks if they can mow the lawn for $20. Happened 3 times in the past 6 weeks or so. Not one of the three has had a lawnmower. Last one (tonight) came at nearly 9pm, so it was already getting dark (in Edmonton). Rode off on his bike when we said no (note: didn't ask next door).

How often has this happened to people? Just feels kinda odd that we've had them come to our house 3 times in a 6 weeks. Is the scam to do with getting inside the house, seeing what's worth stealing? Or something else?

I would go on the side of caution. Everytime they ring, it's only YOU answering the door. So they know (or assume) only YOU live there. Like someone said, next time they ring, they will rush you if they don't expect anyone else.

[cookie-monster]

Well, we have two dogs (60lbs and 75lbs), and the bigger one looks like a Doberman (though she's a mutt), and a screen door that the bigger dog has bent and ripped up (replaced it once already) while barking at people coming to the door, so I'm not sure they'd really want to try and overpower me....

Maybe I'm just paranoid; it's just that that never happened when we lived in Toronto so it seems kinda odd.

[dealguy2]

Get a gun and keep it loaded but safely locked. That's my plan. Someone tries something they get it pointed at their face and if they don't fack off it'll be used.

[hugh_da_man]

Get a gun and keep it loaded but safely locked. That's my plan. Someone tries something they get it pointed at their face and if they don't fack off it'll be used.

If it's safely locked and they home invasion you then you won't have a chance.

Aren't a large number of gun crimes commited with the victim's own gun?

[UrbanPoet]

If it's safely locked and they home invasion you then you won't have a chance.

Aren't a large number of gun crimes commited with the victim's own gun?

thats wrong b/c having guns for self defence in canada is illegal.
However... in the USA where gun use by law abbiding citizens is legal, firearms deters thousands of crimes a year.

The unmentioned success of CCW (lisence to carry a concealed firearm for self defence available only in the USA and not in Canada) is that criminals dont know what they are dealing with.

You wont have the wannabe criminals that snatch purses or feel up your sisters boobs in the park b/c they dont know who's packing a piece or not.
They dont just let anyone carry these guns. Vigerous testing and lisencing is required.

[hugh_da_man]

thats wrong b/c having guns for self defence in canada is illegal.
However... in the USA where gun use by law abbiding citizens deters thousands of crimes a year.

You can get a gun if you're a target shooter.

I was talking in general. I seem to remember hearing some staggering stat where the victim's gun was often used against them. Whether it be Canada or the US.

[Flyer]

If only we had Orgazmo's orgasm gun...

[john widow]

Maybe he's just asking, then he'll bring the mower if he gets a yes, instead of carrying it everywhere, however, if ur a kid and ur seen with the mower, I'm pretty sure u got more of a chance of trust.

But since these are adults and ur having odd feelings, maybe these people are trying to get a sneek peak inside ur home, or just planning for that perfect chance to rob u.

[Cacti]

Did he start off with "Dearest Friend, my father is Nigerian royalty..."?



LMFAO!!!! HAHHAHAHAH

[impronto]

One winter, three kids came to my door and asked if I want my sidewalk shovelled for $5. I said sure.

Five minutes later, they rang my door bell. I saw the sidewalk was done. I handed them a five dollar bill. They said...Five dollars EACH! $15 for 5 minute job. Smart kids. Fooled me once.

lol now thats a good one

[grumps]

The unmentioned success of CCW (lisence to carry a concealed firearm for self defence available only in the USA and not in Canada) is that criminals dont know what they are dealing with.

You wont have the wannabe criminals that snatch purses or feel up your sisters boobs in the park b/c they dont know who's packing a piece or not.
They dont just let anyone carry these guns. Vigerous testing and lisencing is required.

You can't just pull out a gun and shoot someone for feeling up your sisters boobs. The self-defence defenses are very narrow in scope. Busting a cap in someone's @$$ when you're not directly threatened is probably frowned upon.

[poorwingman]

now that's sleeazy tactics...I wonder if the parents taught them that. It's tough to be rude to a little kid though, but if a teen or grown up did that to me, I'd most certainly tell them off.

if it was teens, i'd just pay them off. it's not worth it for an extra $10. i wouldn't want some punk kids coming back later with eggs or toilet paper.. or both

[mrgrieves]

thats wrong b/c having guns for self defence in canada is illegal.
However... in the USA where gun use by law abbiding citizens is legal, firearms deters thousands of crimes a year.

The unmentioned success of CCW (lisence to carry a concealed firearm for self defence available only in the USA and not in Canada) is that criminals dont know what they are dealing with.

You wont have the wannabe criminals that snatch purses or feel up your sisters boobs in the park b/c they dont know who's packing a piece or not.
They dont just let anyone carry these guns. Vigerous testing and lisencing is required.
Exactly, thats why there is so little crime in the USA compared to Canada.

[dealguy2]

thats wrong b/c having guns for self defence in canada is illegal.

That's actually not correct. In Canada you can use reasonable force to defend yourself. So if someone tries to stab you with a knife or pulls a gun on you you can shoot them dead.

[masterhapposai]

and asks if they can mow the lawn for $20. Happened 3 times in the past 6 weeks or so. Not one of the three has had a lawnmower. Last one (tonight) came at nearly 9pm, so it was already getting dark (in Edmonton). Rode off on his bike when we said no (note: didn't ask next door).

How often has this happened to people? Just feels kinda odd that we've had them come to our house 3 times in a 6 weeks. Is the scam to do with getting inside the house, seeing what's worth stealing? Or something else?

i'd do something about it. better than seeing you on the news next week dead.

put up some beware of dog posters, walk your dogs more often to show them off. throw a few parties during the next few weeks and invite friends over. busying it up will deter them if they're phishing

and tell them you want the lawn mowed like someone said, and only pay after. if they got no lawnmower and/or run, call the police and make up a story about them

[Big Brother]

Did he start off with "Dearest Friend, my father is Nigerian royalty..."?

Haha, that was my XD for the day.

[PrimoTurbo]

Doesn’t sound like a scam especially if you pay after, but door to door soliciting is annoying just like telemarketers.

I would ask next time if the person is with a company (If they say yes, ask for a business card that way you will know they are most likely legitimate.) and if they have mowing equipment. If you want to get rid of them tell them you do your own lawn.

[LeeBoA]

Should have ripped the $5 bill in 3 pieces and given each of them 1/3rd. ;)
**** thats a good idea, great way to get those kids back

[Steeve Urkel]

What if you got some Alarm company stickers?

I know I've had a couple people ask me for the ones that came with my system...people wanting to pretend they have an "Alarmforce" system.

The only problem wit that is if you live by yourself and you put up one of those stickers people will know there is no one there, esp if they have been scoping out your place!

Get a monitoring camera or something or a light that automatically turns on when people go on your steps maybe?

[Becks]

I think it's illegal to rip a bill!

[farooq7]

Sort off topic but anyways. What happens if the kid or even adult cutting your grass gets hurt on your property using his/her lawn mower, Do they have the right to Sue you?

[Sparkx]

They might be hoping to use YOUR lawnmower, and once they are done mowing, you pay them, and they run awy with the lawnmower.

[knapper]

He (or they) might want to rob your place and are checking if you are home....

This could very well be the case. There was a police warning in my area last year warning of a rise in home break-ins and this was their method. Ring the doorbell (during the day), if the door is answered ask for "INSERT NAME HERE" and then just say "sorry wrong house". If no answer, go around back and try to get in.

[red_roses101]

and asks if they can mow the lawn for $20. Happened 3 times in the past 6 weeks or so. Not one of the three has had a lawnmower. Last one (tonight) came at nearly 9pm, so it was already getting dark (in Edmonton). Rode off on his bike when we said no (note: didn't ask next door).

How often has this happened to people? Just feels kinda odd that we've had them come to our house 3 times in a 6 weeks. Is the scam to do with getting inside the house, seeing what's worth stealing? Or something else?

Happened once, they go to their house (usually nearby) and bring the mower. You'd look like an idiot walking around with a lawnmower :lol: I just don't beleive my parents pay them still....I tell them I can do it for like a 1/4 of their cost, but they say no. :|

[najibs]

I think it's illegal to rip a bill!

Whether it is or not, you'd be stupid to rip up your own bills :lol:

[rajab04]

Exactly, thats why there is so little crime in the USA compared to Canada.

Huh , USA is a country of crime, crime rate is really high. can't compare with
canada at all.

[ratface]

Sort off topic but anyways. What happens if the kid or even adult cutting your grass gets hurt on your property using his/her lawn mower, Do they have the right to Sue you?
Sure they could. They wouldn't necessarily win, but certainly could try.
That's why you have liability coverage on your homeowners or tenants insurance.

[etrywesd]

someone once said to teach your children about money (this is not word for word)

If you let them setup a lemonade stand, they can learn to make a few dimes here and there, making a little bit of money for themselves
but that is a bad way to teach a child

whereas you could tell your child, 'you see that lemonade stand at the neighbor's house?', you could go over there and buy lemonade, choke on a lemonade seed and sue them for a million bucks, then you got a lot of money, and this is the foundation for a solid financial education