Destiny Sales Door to door children's books sales to benefit college student's trip to Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris. Option to donate books to Children's Hospital. St. Louis, Missouri

A young man came to my door claiming to be a student at the culinary arts institute.  He said he was raising money for a trip to study at the Cordon Bleu school in Paris.  He was selling children's books and had a single-page color brochure of different books to purchase (children's encyclopedias, storybooks and cookbooks).  The books were sold in lots of ten.  Since I said I do not have children, he said that many people choose to order the books and donate them to Children's Hospital. They were to go to children with autism.  I ordered a set of ten books to donate to Children's Hospital.  He asked for my address so the hospital could send a postcard when they received the books.  Also so he could send a postcard from Paris.  He said he was hoping to be a chef and open an Italian restaurant.

He named a few neighbors who had ordered from him.  When I wrote the check ($40), he asked me to write an invoice number on it. This was a bunch of numbers and his initials "K.K.".  He said that he wanted me to write the number because he didn't want to touch checks- because he wanted to go to Paris not jail, ha ha.  That raised a red flag but like an idiot I gave him the check and he left.  I thought he gave me a receipt that I slipped in my checkbook but when I looked I could not find it (sleight of hand or did I lose it?).  He asked me to write a review on his copy of the invoice to rate his communication skills and appearance.  Low score for appearance- he has two tattoos of Chinese caracters on the right side of his neck and something with flames or long swirley lines on his right forearm.

There were a number of things that set off warning bells but I guess I did not want to seem rude and decline the deal after I had already agreed.

I came in the house, looked up the company "Destiny Sales" on the internet and found a Ripoff Report.  I cancelled the check through my bank right away.  I called the police and asked if they had heard of the scam.  No, but would I like an officer to come out to write up a report.  I declined.  Then I called Children's Hospital.  They said there was absolutely no such thing but they had heard of such a scam a few years ago.  My suspicions confirmed, I figured I would go find the guy.  So with my cell phone and the police phone number ready, I drove around looking for him.  I could not find him.  So whoever is running this thing has my name, address, phone number and checking account number- that is unsettling.