Magazine scam in Redlands

The Inland Empire Crime Blog published this alert:

The Redlands Police wish to alert residents to a fraudulent magazine sales campaign reported late last week.

A resident reported that two young women came to his residence near Redlands High School selling magazine subscriptions allegedly to raise funds for Cal State San Bernardino’s women’s basketball team and a tournament trip to Hawaii.

The women provided information about the school’s basketball program which is easily available on the school’s athletics website.

Cal State San Bernardino Associate Athletic Director Mike Murphy was alerted to the scam and confirmed to Redlands Police that Cal State is holding no such fund raising effort and the school’s women’s basketball program has no plans for an upcoming tournament in Hawaii.

Police caution residents to ask solicitors to show their business licenses before signing up or donating money. If the cause is one you wish to contribute to, contact the organization directly and confirm they are raising money. Never submit to high-pressure tactics to convince you to contribute immediately.

If residents are suspicious of solicitors in their neighborhoods they should call the police.

Not that I'm about to ask Howard Snider for his business license.