IDs.
I just watched Five Dollars A Day, the overlooked movie with the incomparable Christopher Walken. He conned everyone all day.
“Every day is my birthday” he told his son as he pulled out one of his many IDs.
“I know a guy who makes drivers’ licenses.” Restaurants gave him a meal or a discount and a piece of cake with a candle.
At some point, you have to trust what is going on. Or not.
There is a lot of hand wringing and paranoia.
If you don’t want to answer your door and talk to strangers…then don’t.
I remember being a door to door salesman in 1982. I loved these days. It wasn’t too hot and people were outside a lot. It made my job a lot easier and more pleasant. If someone did not want what I was selling…that was fine. I just moved on to the next door. It was a numbers game. Getting into arguments with folks simply took time away from me.