5:11 p.m., March 18, 2010----On March 16, two young salesmen, who claimed they were selling magazine subscriptions to raise money for tuition and trips abroad, approached two University of Delaware students on the front porch of their off-campus residence.

The students agreed to purchase subscriptions but later began to feel uneasy about the situation and researched the company on the Internet. They found that many individuals had reported it as a scam, and they immediately reported the incident to UD Police and the Newark Police.

According to the Better Business Bureau, in the last year the bureau has received more than 1,100 complaints from consumers in 46 states and the District of Columbia, against more than 50 companies selling magazines door to door. Such scams are not uncommon and are becoming more and more common in today's world.

Members of the University of Delaware community, especially students living in off-campus housing, should be aware of the potential for scams in door-to-door sales that may appear to be harmless.

In late February, Delaware Rep. Bryon Short proposed legislation that would require door-to-door salespeople to prominently display an identification badge that would state the seller's name, employer, company phone number, business address and the state of Delaware business license number. If a salesperson does not have some sort of ID displayed, it may be a sign that they are not legitimate.

Delaware has regulations that door-to-door salespeople may only conduct sales between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. If it is out of this time frame, be aware that it may be a scam.

The Better Business Bureau suggests researching any company on its Web site before writing a check for a magazine subscription.

If you have been a victim of such a scams, it is recommended that you report it to local police, and that you report the company's name and the incident to the Better Business Bureau.

Article by Katie Galgano