Fraud Warning On Door-To-Door Student Solicitors

A non-profit education group has warned that a fraud ring is sending young people door to door in El Cerrito and some other parts of Northern California to ask for money for a scholarship, according to the Sacramento Bee.

The warning comes from the Sacramento-based California Educational Technology Proefessionals Association, saying the fake solicitors are asking for money for the association's Student Bridge to the Future Scholarhip, the newspaper said.

The association said on its Facebook page that it does not organize or condone door-to-door solicitations for the scholarship.

The organization said it received calls about the solicitations from El Cerrito, San Ramon and Oakland, according to the Bee.

Some of the young people allegedly offered magazine subscriptions, and others offered to do work like lawn care or house work, the Bee said.

The association urged those who are targeted by such solicitors to contact local police right away while the perpertrators are still in the neighborhood.

"We'd like to stop these individuals from taking money from well meaning citizens," the group's Facebook message said.

El Cerrito police ask residents who spot suspicious people in their neighborhoods, including strangers who knock on the door, to contact police right away at at 510-237-3233, option 2.