Who’s knocking at your door?

Aside from the potential of getting scammed, uninvited sales people can disrupt your daily routine and your peace of mind.

Police said the summer months and warm weather attract more door-to-door solicitors and recently, the City of Rexburg has been swamped with traveling sales people.

“I’m not saying that all of these people are bad, but the track record is they are,” said Capt. Randy Lewis, Rexburg Police.

There’s nothing like opening your front door to a solicitor and Rexburg Police said people of Madison County seem to be doing a lot of that recently.

“I asked if he could come back in an hour when my husband would be home and he said no and that it was a one-time thing and that hit a red flag,” said Christie Smathers, Rexburg resident.

For Christie, catching a door-to-door scam is easy. So when a traveling salesman approached her home a few days ago selling an expensive magazine subscription for a bogus reason, she sniffed the scam.

“He was very close to the door, to me, and kind of invasive and in your face like, ‘I’m here and I’m staying,'” said Christie.

It helps that her husband is a door-to-door data collector. Although he doesn’t sell anything and doesn’t collect money, he collects information which can be just as hard to get.

“If someone needs it, they’re going to be interested,” said Joshua Smathers, Christie’s husband. “If not, you move on because you can’t sell someone something they don’t need or don’t want.”

Purchase a “No Soliciting” sign to place in your front window. Check through a peephole or window before opening your door. Never invite solicitors inside your home, and always ask to see their permit and identification.

“Shop locally or within the area,” said Lewis. “Don’t deal with these people.”

As far as religious groups go, missionaries and preachers are not considered solicitors in the City of Rexburg. City officials said a solicitor has to be selling an item and/or collecting money.

If you feel threatened by an aggressive solicitor, contact your local law enforcement immediately.