So these two people came to my door, saying they were selling magazines to get points, and xyz points = xyz dollars for them to use toward college. I was having one of my charitable days and decided to go ahead and buy a subscription, but I don't like magazines cluttering up my house, so they said they would have the subscription sent to the local women's shelter. Sounded good.

I chit-chatted with them about how I also grew up poor, have strived to better myself, and tried to donate money to good causes whenever I could. Then I went on about how happy I was to hear that they were trying to better their lives and told them how college made a huge difference for me and lots of other people I know. But I kept getting that little twinge of "something's wrong." When they tried to casually tell me that one (1) magaine subscription would be $60 and the minimum order was 6 subscriptions. A rather hefty markup for magazines, but fundraisers are often like that. I said in my most compassionate tone, "I love helping people, but if I did that, my children wouldn't eat that week." They said they would allow me to order just one subscription, the cheapest one they had, for $30.

As I was writing the check, those gut feelings that something wasn't right, just kept growing. And then they asked me not to write anything in the memo area of my check. (Giant flashing warning sign!) So instead of having a big confrontation with them (I've dealt with that before), I said thank you, gave them the check, and locked my door. Then I researched their organization online, and found out that they were frauds. No big deal. I canceled the check through the bank, faxed over a cancellation of my order, and figured I would just keep an eye open for anything suspicious on our bank account. At worst, I got suckered.

Then today I'm reading the local news...

Turns out one of the guys with the magazine selling group sold a couple of magazines to a woman who let the man in her house. He strangled her until she went unconscious and then robbed her house.

Another guy in the group had sexually assulted a woman in my area.

I'm officially declaring myself lucky. From now on, the only people on my doorstep I'll talk to more then 30 seconds will be kids and people I know.