By: Erin Smith
Two men are alleged to have knocked on doors of residences on Old Abbottsburg Road on Tuesday and claimed to residents they were selling insurance and that they worked with West Bladen Assisted Living.
A representative of West Bladen Assisted Living said that the men were not affiliated with the facility.
“We had the daughter of a lady (who resides on Old Abbottsburg Road) to call us on Tuesday and tell us about it,” said Tammy Coleman, who is resident care coordinator of the facility.
Coleman said the caller told West Bladen Assisted Living staff that two men came to her mother’s door on Old Abbottsburg Road. Coleman said the caller told the staff the men told her mother they were working with West Bladen Assisted Living Living and attempted to sell her mother insurance.
“We assured her there is only one male that works here and he works in the maintenance department,” said Coleman.
She added West Bladen Assisted Living does not sell insurance.
“We are an assisted living facility. We do not sell insurance,” said Coleman.
She added that West Bladen Assisted Living staff have reported the incident to authorities.
Bladenboro Police Chief Chris Hunt said that should someone knock on your door offering to sell you anything, ask to see their credentials and not just a business card.
“You need to see some type of credentials,” said Hunt.
He said that a salesman should be able to provide a telephone for the company he represents. Hunt said residents should call the number to verify the person’s credentials.
“If they don’t want to give you that information, call 911,” said Hunt.
He said residents can check out the latest information about scams in their area by going to ncdoj.gov and go to the section labeled “Protect Yourself” and click on Avoid Consumer Scams. Hunt said this will instruct folks how not to become a victim of a scam, help them to learn about the latest scams through Scam Alert, and how to report a possible scam.
UPDATE: Chief Deputy Larry Guyton with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office said on Thursday afternoon, the sheriff’s office had received reports of two men trying to sell insurance in the Owen Hill area.
“We dispatched a car but they did not locate the individuals,” said Guyton.
He said the investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with any information regarding the individuals is asked to call the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office at 910-862-6960.
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