'Vacuum Salesman' Stirs Up Virus Cleaning Scam Fears In Vernon

VERNON, CT — A man who told police he was a door-to-door vacuum salesman created a bit of consternation at apartment complexes in Vernon Wednesday afternoon when residents feared he was a coronavirus "cleaning" scam artist.

On Wednesday afternoon, Police were alerted to the presence of a man in a dark-colored van making his way around complexes in Vernon. Some apartment complex staffers said was trying to get into residences under the guise of management-authorized coronavirus-related cleaning efforts.

According to an incident report, police contacted the van's owner, who then said he had rented it out to another man. That man, when reached by phone, said he sells vacuums and offers cleaning services "by going door-to-door," according to an incident report.

Police said they advised the "salesman" that he needed to register as a solicitor before entering any complex in town.

Neither the "salesman" nor the owner of the van has a criminal record, police said.