Salesman arrested after allegedly scamming Cache County couple


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CACHE COUNTY — A Utah couple was scammed out of hundreds of dollars when a door-to-door salesman sold them an air purifier for nearly six times its value.

Police say that Andrew and Marilyn Hyer were approached by 45-year-old salesman Larry Wallace in their front yard last Thursday with a sales pitch that preyed upon the couple's medical conditions.

"A car pulled up and a gentleman asked if I'd be interested in a free drawing for a very special air filter," Andrew Hyer said. "[Wallace] said, ‘Cache Valley is high in pollutants, and your home is bad.' "

According to police, Wallace claimed that the air purifier he was selling would "prevent stroke" and "cure sleep apnea." Wallace then quoted the Hyers a price of $1,790 for an air filter that costs about $300 at Target.

Andrew Hyer said after Wallace finished his sales pitch, he "cut them a break" by reducing the price for the air filter to $1,000.

"I thought car dealers were bad, but that was something worse," Marilyn Hyer said.


If believe you have fallen for a similar scam, please contact your local police.

When the Hyers' son, Kevin Hyer, visited his parents later that day, he became suspicious and investigated online. "I just knew something was not right," Kevin Hyer said. He found the same Advanced Pure Air brand air purifier online for about $400.

"I was taken. I was set back. I was hurt," Andrew Hyer said.

The Hyers called North Park police, put a stop payment on their check and asked Wallace to come take the device back the next day.

"[Wallace] was just throwing everything in the box as fast as he could," Kevin Hyer said. But a police detective was waiting for Wallace outside. Kevin Hyer caught the arrest on tape. "I'm glad he's off the street," Kevin Hyer said.

Salesman arrested after allegedly scamming Cache County couple

The Hyers are urging others to be vigilant to avoid any similar scams. "I want it to stop for other people that might fall for the same darn gimmick that I did," Andrew Hyer said.

North Park police said representatives at Advanced Pure Air told them Wallace was registered with their company, but that they only authorize salesmen to price that purifier at up to around $400.

Wallace was booked into the Cache County jail pending charges of theft by deception and a business violation for not being registered with the city.

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Mike Anderson

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