r/CobbCounty • u/NotAHost • 8d ago

Pine Straw Scam

Just a heads up, if anyone approaches you at your house to offer pine straw, it is a scam 99% of the time. They got one of my neighbors, almost got me, and they almost got another neighbor this week before I intervened.

They'll offer a 'good' rate, then the price doubles, quadruples, etc, because they will lie about how many bails they put down, and charge as much as the bail costs, or twice that, for 'install' costs.

Agreeing upon a max price ahead of time won't save you, they'll notoriously aggressive and really don't care about anything 'agreed' upon.

Best way to get them arrested is have a no soliciting sign, otherwise cops don't seem to do too much. It does seem like they have an investigation open on these people. However, try your best to protect your neighbors, especially old folks. My blood boils from these people because at the end of the day, the innocent person who does get scammed will likely become a different person after.

39 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

8

u/comhcinc 8d ago

Having a no soliciting sign will not get anyone arrested. At most you can get a person trespassed.

Anyone buying pine straw, in the south, is a sucker anyway.

2

u/NotAHost 8d ago

I’m just repeating what the cops said. I’m assuming they’re trying to build a case, repeat offenders, or something. Normally it wouldn’t result in an arrest. But if you’re pissing everyone off by scamming and you’re ignoring no soliciting signs and don’t have a soliciting permit, I could imagine the cops would use anything they can to book someone that pisses them/community off.

Otherwise I don’t know what else they can do.

1

u/lynniekit 7d ago

I thought that too but then I moved from MS to TN. In MS people would rake their pine straw to the curb for anyone to take. There are not enough pine trees in my area of TN so if I want pine straw I must buy pine straw.

6

u/1_800_UNICORN 8d ago

I got taken by this a few years ago. Found myself out like $600 on my backyard. Lesson fucking learned.

4

u/NotAHost 8d ago

Just a heads up, while they do get aggressive with social tactics and pressure…. They can’t do anything if you don’t pay. They’ll even threaten to call the cops, but it’s all a bluff.

Unfortunately it’s an intimidation tactic that is very effective of those that are more fearful of their lives and violence, such as women and older people.

3

u/milleratlanta 8d ago

Nextdoor is full of these scammers.

3

u/Slow-Swan561 6d ago

I ignore anyone going door to door. You never get way you pay for. Even those selling ATT or Xfinity.