State law enforcement agencies and the Milwaukee and Oak Creek Police
investigating a door-to-door magazine crew have uncovered a seller wanted
for burglary charges in Arizona. A marijuana stash was also found.
The investigation started when another crew member was arrested in Milwaukee
for disorderly conduct after being cited for selling without a license. The
crew works for Pacific Coast Clearing Services of Gig Harbor, Washington.
Most crew members are 18 to 25 years old.
Assisting the police in the investigation are the Wisconsin Department of
Justice and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection.
The Consumer Protection Office in Eau Claire warned the magazine crew that
its sales pitch violated Wisconsin Law. Sellers ask customers to help them
"win a contest," when state law requires them to say upfront they are
selling magazines. Despite the warning, the crew allegedly continued to
mislead customers.
"Consumers should be wary of door-to-door magazine crews," says Fran Tryon,
director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Call the police if sellers
are aggressive. You may be able to deal with them, but think about your more
vulnerable neighbors down the street."
It is not uncommon for crew members to get into trouble and be arrested.
"We have been warning young people for years not to go with these crews,"
says Tryon.
The magazine companies run help-wanted ads in Wisconsin newspapers and also
recruit where young people gather, such as State Street in Madison. "Want
to travel and have fun," they ask.
Madison area young people were signed up this way in 1999 by a company known
as Y.E.S., based in DeWitt, Iowa. Seven sellers were killed in a magazine
van crash caused by irresponsible driving. Five others were severely
injured. The van driver and the operators of the company have been
prosecuted.
For more information, call the toll-free hotline of the Wisconsin Department
of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: 1-800-422-7128.#
