Reality Show’s “Summer Sales” Dupes Everyone

4/16/2010

As shown in recent newscasts, students from across the country auditioned for a new TV reality show called “The Prodigy”. The show was hyped to be the next “Apprentice” reality show, touting that the best salesperson would win a grand prize of one million dollars. With slick flyers and flashy videos, their “casting calls” duped thousands of students into thinking they had a real chance at fame and fortune.

Without being professionally licensed, trained or equipped, the students were “challenged” to go door‐to‐door selling home alarm systems. They were rounded up in vans, dropped off in unfamiliar communities and tasked to work 10‐hours a day, six days a week over four grueling months. They were told to represent themselves as “Advertising Directors” for a company they did not work for. Students admitted to lying to their customers telling them they were giving them a free home security system. In some cases, they were ripping out perfectly good systems and replacing them with their own shoddy equipment.

At summer’s end, without materializing any lights, cameras or million dollar winners, the Utah based company behind the elaborate scheme quickly cleared out of their corporate headquarters and filed for bankruptcy. The only reality for the students was that they had been scammed along with the customers they took advantage of. To date, the Better Business Bureau has received hundreds of customer complaints against the Utah company. For more details, read the full news story or watch the video.

ADS Security wants you to be aware of some of the tactics these summer workers use:

• They will often say that they work for a security system manufacturer.
• They may state that they work for ADS Security and knock on your door with no appointment.
• They may say they are there to “upgrade” your existing system.
• They may say they are only offering a certain number of “free” systems in your neighborhood.
• They may misrepresent that ADS Security is “going out of business”.

Exercise caution when entrusting your family’s security. Take the following steps to ensure you always deal with a reputable alarm professional:

• Ask for an ID badge, business card or literature with their company name.
• Ask for their State Alarm License Number. All ADS Security offices have required state licenses.

Never hesitate to Contact an ADS Security Professional at before making any decision concerning the security of your home or business.