Police Capt. Randy Baldridge said the well-dressed, college-age salespeople were all part of an out-of-state group canvassing the area, but they told residents near Ridgeway Road they lived in the same neighborhood as a way to get them talking.
Baldridge said these salespeople recently approached a city employee and made a reference to helping a generic “children’s hospital or children’s medical center,” (not specifically Dayton’s) making intentional fraud tougher to prove. He said they suggested also possible donations to Children’s, although the sales company’s own literature prohibits that.
“They were absolutely using deceptive tactics,” Baldridge said. “You really are playing on the emotions of people. It’s low-ball and underhanded.”
Baldridge called it a legal gray area, but he said Oakwood police are contacting the city and the Montgomery Prosecutor’s Offices and the Ohio attorney general to inquire if there are charges to be filed, or if this incident can be connected to a larger case.
The Ohio Attorney General’s office has received no complaints about Nxcess Sales, according to spokeswoman Kim Kowalski, but the office has issued multiple warnings urging people to use caution when dealing with door-to-door salespeople.
“We tell residents to be very careful of anyone who does not appear to portray themselves honestly,” Baldridge said. “It comes back to the old saying, ‘Buyer beware.’ ”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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