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GREENSBORO — The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is advising residents to be aware of a scam related to door-to-door solicitors.

On Monday, deputies received a report of a door-to-door solicitor in the Brightwood Farms area requesting donations and selling books to raise travel funds for a youth sports team, according to a sheriff’s office alert.

The victim said she was given a receipt with the web site name of nxcesssales.com on it.

Deputies looked into the web site and found the company has received numerous complaints, many of which regarded customers not receiving items they purchased. Other complaints dealt with “neighborhood” children selling books and magazines as part of a scam related to the company.

The sheriff’s office says residents should use caution when dealing with solicitors. Deputies say problematic solicitors typically have well-rehearsed stories to give potential victims in order to take advantage of them.

In Monday’s incident, the victim advised that door-to-door sales were not allowed by her homeowner’s association. But the solicitor claimed he had cleared the project with the association president, who his mother was supposedly a close friend of.

The sheriff’s office says residents should research any company or group before making any purchase and to not give them any money up front.

If in doubt about the person’s authenticity, call a deputy to respond to check out a solicitor by calling the Guilford Metro 911 non-emergency number at 373-2222.

In Greensboro, door-to-door solicitors are required to have a city-issued permit.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com