by Jeremy Hunt
Daily Lobo
People are illegally selling magazine subscriptions on campus, and some of them may be scam artists, said Lt. Pat Davis, spokesman for UNM Police.
The Dean of Students Office sent an e-mail across UNM Webmail on Wednesday, warning students of a potential fraud involving magazine subscriptions.
Randy Boeglin, dean of students, said students complained about overly aggressive salesmen, and some reported being scammed.
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Davis said two men selling magazine subscriptions were cited Tuesday for misuse of public property. One of them was charged with obstructing an officer, he said.
The complaints, scam reports and citation of the two men prompted the Dean of Students Office to send the e-mail.
A student reported to UNM Police two weeks ago that she was approached by a man selling magazine subscriptions. The man claimed he was selling subscriptions to get a scholarship and trip to London. She gave the man $400 and later found out it was a scam.
Davis said the magazine subscription sales may be a scam, but even if they're not, people selling them will be cited anyway.
"We want students to realize soliciting is not allowed on campus," he said. "We don't want them to be a victim of fraud."
Davis said the salesmen are not allowed on campus unless they get clearance from the Student Activities Center.
If a business received a license from the University to solicit on campus, it would be confined to a booth and area of campus, Boeglin said.
He said this isn't the first time UNM has had to deal with unauthorized salespeople.
"We've had periodic issues with solicitation," Boeglin said.
Davis said police are still investigating whether the salesmen are frauds.
Student Candra Rivers said she has dealt with the two magazine solicitors.
Rivers said she was approached by a man who claimed to be selling magazine subscriptions for a communication and journalism class so he could win a scholarship.
"They're very pushy," she said.
Rivers said she works in the communication and journalism department, and people come in asking where they can get refunds for magazine subscriptions.
"We can't refund students' money," she said. "I feel bad."
John Oetzel, chairman of the communication and journalism department, said if someone claims to be selling magazine subscriptions for the department, it's a scam.
"It's not something C and J is sanctioning," he said. "We're not trying to raise money in that way, and I have no idea what's going on with that."
Oetzel said not everyone selling magazine subscriptions is lying.
"If a student happens to be a C and J student selling magazine subscriptions, that may be true, but it's not for C and J's benefit," he said.
Boeglin said people should check with the Albuquerque Better Business Bureau before giving money to anyone.
"If you're going to give someone hundreds of dollars, you'd want to check and make sure it's a good consumer decision," he said. "I'm trying to alert students to be conscientious, cautious consumers."
Davis said students should tell UNM Police if they see magazine solicitors on campus.
"People are out there soliciting unlawfully, and we want students to let us know," he said.
