Residents have raised concerns about four men trying to flog goods on doorsteps in Scone earlier this week, with one claiming it was on the advice of their parole officer.
Police told the PA the group had committed “no crime”, but their antics sparked fevered suspicion among locals.
One resident, who received an unexpected call from one of the men on Tuesday, wrote to Scone and District Community Council recommending the group warn other villagers the man might be up to no good.
The resident said in his message, which the CC published in full on its Facebook page: “Young lad just rang my doorbell and gave me a long story about his parole officer making him sell ... items to reintroduce him back into society ... maybe worth keeping an eye out especially for our elderly residents who may be vulnerable to (possible) rogue tradesmen.
“I can’t see selling door to door out of a black holdall being a legitimate way of reintroducing offenders into the workforce.”
Several site users posted similar accounts of being approached by strange men.
One said: “Just had a guy with black holdall saying he was from Manchester.
“Not saying about parole, said he was recovering from depression, struggling to get a job so thought he would try door to door.
“He was with another guy too.”
Another said: “Just had him on Angus Road, very polite and chatty, showed his passport and a laminated card explaining he’s on a some kind of offenders getting back into work programme.
“I didn’t buy anything.”
And another said: “Just had the Middlesbrough chap at the door.
“He is very polite but there is something about someone presenting a hawker licence on a cold wet winter’s afternoon that I am uncomfortable with.”
And yet another said succinctly: “Sounds very dodgy.
“Might be worth letting police know.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson commented: “We received several calls relating to men knocking on doors in Scone on Tuesday, January 14.
Officers spoke with four men, no crime was recorded, and appropriate advice was given.”
