If two women approach you in Target just to chitchat and get your number, its a scam

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07/30/2022 18:08

Subject: If two women approach you in Target just to chitchat and get your number, its a scam

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Anonymous

I went to the Target in the Mosaic in Merrifield the last three weekends in a row, and twice was approached, and then saw them again today. The first time, it was two girls that looked early 20s; they came up to me and asked "hi, "what's your favorite Bible verse?" It caught me off guard - thought they were going to ask if I knew where something in the store was or whatever; I was just like "I don't know, I can't think of any sorry" and they tried asking for my phone number, claimed they were from "Faith Church" and it's all on Zoom. I declined, and walked away. I didn't really think much of it, other than thinking I should've reported it because it did make me a little uncomfortable. Then last weekend, two women who looked in their 40s, passed me in the food aisle and tried asking me about "yoga on the green" (the green lawn of the Mosaic that the Lululemon hosts - I actually have been to it) - I said no, but they have to ask Lululemon about it. I started walking away and they kept trying to ask me more questions like if I'm from here, and I just was like "take care!" and walked away. My coworkers all told me this is a scam; both of these times - they'll try to distract you and either steal from your purse or slip an Air Tag in it. Get your phone number, and scam you that way.

Anyways, those same two women in their 40s were there again today - I walked past them and recognized them immediately. They were talking to one lady who was shopping alone. I went down an aisle, and they passed me - we made eye contact but they kept going. Now I was on alert and not looking like I was browsing slowly. I continued shopping, and passed them again several times through the food aisles. They were pushing a cart around with nothing in it. At one point they stopped a lady and were talking to her; I walked by and heard them asking things like what school did she go to and "its soooo nice to meet you!". One of them was standing next to her, and the other blocking the aisle. I asked an employee near by if there were any managers I could talk to, and he directed me to guest services. I explained it to the main guy at Guest Services and he called security immediately. I returned to my shopping, all the way back to the groceries. I didn't see the women, got what I needed, and headed over to the personal care/beauty aisles - where I saw them again, they were talking to an older lady in the kitchen supplies area, on both sides of her this time, which I thought was kind of creepy. I saw a man in the security shirt walking by trying to find them, so I let him know it was them. He must have kicked them out thankfully - when I left after checking out, they were lurking outside of the Target by the doors talking angrily. I got to my car and a man was honking furiously in the car next to to me, looking like he was trying to get someone's attention.

I know this may sound harmless - but a friend of mine is a cop and said this is a very common scam. Each time, it felt really weird to me and creepy, and I was annoyed I had even responded in the first place - but I was caught off guard/trying to be polite. I was scared to come off as a "Karen" reporting people to management, but I'm glad I did and I hope they don't come back. Today, after seeing them approach THREE different women who were all shopping alone, it's very obvious what was going on and it makes me so uncomfortable in a store that I love and go to very often (I know it can happen anywhere). My coworker said this has happened to her as well, in stores like the Wegmans or the DSW nearby. Anyways - if this happens to you, please report them to the store and stay alert to your belongings!