It's not a scam, per se, but Consumer Protection says it's not good for consumers.
It involves companies with door-to-door sales crews selling home alarm systems. Consumer Protection's Glen Loyd says the contracts are 3-4 pages of information that consumers don't have time to read when they are under such pressure to sign.
"They're being pressured. They're being told that they can have this alarm system installed for free, but they've got to sign the contract immediately."
Loyd says most of us are too polite to kick someone out of our house, so we're forced to sign the contract just to get rid of them.
"One time I interviewed a fellow that signed a contract just to get rid of the sales person because the consumer wanted to go to bed."
Loyd says one elderly woman later found out that she could get out of her unwanted contract, but she would have to pay 3-thousand dollars. His advice?
"Don't let anybody pressure you into signing a longterm contract on your doorstep."
Another thing Loyd warns against: giving out too much information to strangers, just because they ask for it!
"When they are knocking on your door, the first thing that they ask you is, 'Do you have a home alarm system?' And you know you don't want to be answering that question from a stranger knocking at your door."
Considering all the Consumer Protection alerts, you'd think people would be cautious and skeptical, but Loyd says old people are lonely, so when a young person knocks on the door, it's an opportunity to have a conversation.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report (1:35 MP3)
