LYNN HAVEN - An Estonian selling children's books was sent to jail for failing to have the proper license, Bay County Sheriff’s officials wrote in a news release.
Investigators said they received numerous calls about door-to-door peddlers but most of them have the proper licenses and are operating legally. However, on Monday investigators arrested Lauri Luden, 20. Luden was charged with violation of peddlers ordinance, officials wrote in a news release.
“Luden approached a woman in the Derby Woods area to sell books and she was concerned when he began asking many questions about her children,” a news release states. Luden's approach may have set off an "alert" on social media.
"An "alert" going around within the social media community informing people that there is a scam in the US involving Russian people going door-to-door purporting to sell children's books, when in reality they are trying to get information on the children in the home," wrote BCSO Spokeswoman Ruth Corley in an email to The News Herald. "We have not been able to corroborate the information in this "alert" with anything we have investigated here in
"Deputies and investigators are reminding peddlers of this ordinance and will take enforcement action if it becomes necessary,” the news release states. “Residents are encouraged to contact local law enforcement should they have any concerns or complaints about door-to-door peddlers.”