CONTACT: STEVE PARROTT
5 Old Capitol
Iowa City IA 52242
(319) 335-0552; fax (319) 335-0558
email: steven-parrott@uiowa.edu

Release: Oct. 26, 2000

UI campus community is warned of magazine scam

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Law enforcement agencies on several Iowa campuses have received complaints about a high-pressure magazine sales scam. University of Iowa Public Safety officer, Brad Allison, offers suggestions on what to do if a salesperson approaches you on campus:

• Try to ignore the person and walk away. Unauthorized solicitation on campus is against UI policy.
  
  
• Go to a safe location and report the incident to Public Safety at (319) 335-5022.
  
  
• If the salesperson tries to pressure you in to buying something and you feel threatened, say that you are late for class. Tell the salesperson to stop back in an hour and you’ll buy a subscription. Then report the incident to Public Safety.
  
  
• If the salesperson continues to pressure you, yell for help or dial 911.
  
  
• The salesperson may try to tell you he/she is taking a survey. Do not give out any personal information such as name, phone number, address, or social security number. If you have to, give a false name and information.
  
  
• Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.