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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in the DMV: I was approached at a grocery store by a young 22-25 year old woman, I'm mid-50's. She wouldn't stop asking me about my running shoes. Errrr.....they're nothing special. Brooks.com look it up. Then proceeded to ask me if I run, and where I like to run. I told her I like run with my DH and rottweiler, and got the hell out of there. I had my head on a swivel the entire walk from the store to my car.

Wow. The world is totally f’d. Make friendly small talk with someone and they call the cops on you. SMH

You are all insane. Real criminals are either too sophisticated to waste time stalking people with Air Tags in Target or they are strung out and give zero fcks about just punching you in the face and stealing your bag. Consider how lucky you all are to be so naive.

Where did I say that I "called the cops"? a 22 yr old chatting up a 55 yr old about her old Brooks running shoes and where she likes to run is odd, suspicious, and out of place. So what, I was supposed to ignore my instinct like so many other women do and end up regretting it?

You need to stop being so naive as to think this stuff isn't happening. You do you though. I could not care less.

+1 In Atlanta yesterday, a 77 year old woman living in a gated community was stabbed to death by a young man determined to steal her car.

By someone who placed an air tag in their purse at Target? Nope. By someone who chatted about sneakers? Nope.

You are all paranoid. Car jackers and muggers don’t chat with you they come out of the blue and surprise you and threaten you directly with violence.

I agree with pp who thinks you guys are crazy and paranoid. Are any of you who posted your “getaway” stories wondering how you ALL managed to get away from the secretly dangerous but very innocent looking people who were talking to you in public? Could it be, perhaps, that they were just innocent people?

[Anonymous]

This somewhat applies

https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2022/texas-elder-murders.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I rarely have anyone initiate random conversation in a store except maybe if we’re looking at similar items. (“Wow. Not much stocking stuffer candy left.”)

I would find it strange for pairs of people to persistently pursue seemingly random conversation too.

Classic DCUM to attack the OP or the underlying premise. Does it make you feel safer in your world to deny potential danger and malign the OP instead?

+1 Some of these posters are trying to pretend that criminals don't operate in this manner. Oh, yes they do. Criminals are looking for gullible victims, and many of them target people in stores and communicate with their fellow criminals who are in the parking lot.

Post a link or else you’re just making up scenarios in your own mind.

Not the PP you're addressing, but: You seem very invested in insisting this is all paranoia and all fabricated.

Why so insistent? If that's you who's written several of these "it doesn't happen/you're paranoid" posts, you sound oddly strident about attacking posters who are more cautious than you are.

That's...suspicious, actually. You're creating the very thing you claim PPs here shouldn't be feeling. Namely, suspicion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not in the DMV: I was approached at a grocery store by a young 22-25 year old woman, I'm mid-50's. She wouldn't stop asking me about my running shoes. Errrr.....they're nothing special. Brooks.com look it up. Then proceeded to ask me if I run, and where I like to run. I told her I like run with my DH and rottweiler, and got the hell out of there. I had my head on a swivel the entire walk from the store to my car.

Wow. The world is totally f’d. Make friendly small talk with someone and they call the cops on you. SMH

You are all insane. Real criminals are either too sophisticated to waste time stalking people with Air Tags in Target or they are strung out and give zero fcks about just punching you in the face and stealing your bag. Consider how lucky you all are to be so naive.

Where did I say that I "called the cops"? a 22 yr old chatting up a 55 yr old about her old Brooks running shoes and where she likes to run is odd, suspicious, and out of place. So what, I was supposed to ignore my instinct like so many other women do and end up regretting it?

You need to stop being so naive as to think this stuff isn't happening. You do you though. I could not care less.

+1 In Atlanta yesterday, a 77 year old woman living in a gated community was stabbed to death by a young man determined to steal her car.

By someone who placed an air tag in their purse at Target? Nope. By someone who chatted about sneakers? Nope.

You are all paranoid. Car jackers and muggers don’t chat with you they come out of the blue and surprise you and threaten you directly with violence.

I agree with pp who thinks you guys are crazy and paranoid. Are any of you who posted your “getaway” stories wondering how you ALL managed to get away from the secretly dangerous but very innocent looking people who were talking to you in public? Could it be, perhaps, that they were just innocent people?

Come to where I live and witness the larger stores and parking lots limping woman, the man playing a violin, the couple with a stroller, etc-- all of whom try to strike up "innocent" conversations before you see them the following week getting into cars with their cohorts and their day's profits until they get caught. I don't choose to "lose" my bags and wallet that way.

[Anonymous]

OMG like I would ever engage in conversation with a random at Target. This is like warnings about solicitors who are selling magazines. Like I would ever talk to those people in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I rarely have anyone initiate random conversation in a store except maybe if we’re looking at similar items. (“Wow. Not much stocking stuffer candy left.”)

I would find it strange for pairs of people to persistently pursue seemingly random conversation too.

Classic DCUM to attack the OP or the underlying premise. Does it make you feel safer in your world to deny potential danger and malign the OP instead?

+1 Some of these posters are trying to pretend that criminals don't operate in this manner. Oh, yes they do. Criminals are looking for gullible victims, and many of them target people in stores and communicate with their fellow criminals who are in the parking lot.

Post a link or else you’re just making up scenarios in your own mind.

Not the PP you're addressing, but: You seem very invested in insisting this is all paranoia and all fabricated.

Why so insistent? If that's you who's written several of these "it doesn't happen/you're paranoid" posts, you sound oddly strident about attacking posters who are more cautious than you are.

That's...suspicious, actually. You're creating the very thing you claim PPs here shouldn't be feeling. Namely, suspicion.

So people with a different opinion are inherently suspicious? I am invested because I literally hate people like you that use innuendo to pin suspicion on others merely for having the audacity to not fall in line with your privileged expectations. Quirky people, poor people, people with mental illness etc. all get victimized by your false accusations. If you see an actual crime by all means say something but otherwise you are sowing distrust and hate of the “other”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I rarely have anyone initiate random conversation in a store except maybe if we’re looking at similar items. (“Wow. Not much stocking stuffer candy left.”)

I would find it strange for pairs of people to persistently pursue seemingly random conversation too.

Classic DCUM to attack the OP or the underlying premise. Does it make you feel safer in your world to deny potential danger and malign the OP instead?

+1 Some of these posters are trying to pretend that criminals don't operate in this manner. Oh, yes they do. Criminals are looking for gullible victims, and many of them target people in stores and communicate with their fellow criminals who are in the parking lot.

Post a link or else you’re just making up scenarios in your own mind.

Not the PP you're addressing, but: You seem very invested in insisting this is all paranoia and all fabricated.

Why so insistent? If that's you who's written several of these "it doesn't happen/you're paranoid" posts, you sound oddly strident about attacking posters who are more cautious than you are.

That's...suspicious, actually. You're creating the very thing you claim PPs here shouldn't be feeling. Namely, suspicion.

So people with a different opinion are inherently suspicious? I am invested because I literally hate people like you that use innuendo to pin suspicion on others merely for having the audacity to not fall in line with your privileged expectations. Quirky people, poor people, people with mental illness etc. all get victimized by your false accusations. If you see an actual crime by all means say something but otherwise you are sowing distrust and hate of the “other”.

This has nothing to do with privilege or privileged expectations. It's about safety--especially in a large city, whether you approve or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I rarely have anyone initiate random conversation in a store except maybe if we’re looking at similar items. (“Wow. Not much stocking stuffer candy left.”)

I would find it strange for pairs of people to persistently pursue seemingly random conversation too.

Classic DCUM to attack the OP or the underlying premise. Does it make you feel safer in your world to deny potential danger and malign the OP instead?

+1 Some of these posters are trying to pretend that criminals don't operate in this manner. Oh, yes they do. Criminals are looking for gullible victims, and many of them target people in stores and communicate with their fellow criminals who are in the parking lot.

Post a link or else you’re just making up scenarios in your own mind.

Not the PP you're addressing, but: You seem very invested in insisting this is all paranoia and all fabricated.

Why so insistent? If that's you who's written several of these "it doesn't happen/you're paranoid" posts, you sound oddly strident about attacking posters who are more cautious than you are.

That's...suspicious, actually. You're creating the very thing you claim PPs here shouldn't be feeling. Namely, suspicion.

So people with a different opinion are inherently suspicious? I am invested because I literally hate people like you that use innuendo to pin suspicion on others merely for having the audacity to not fall in line with your privileged expectations. Quirky people, poor people, people with mental illness etc. all get victimized by your false accusations. If you see an actual crime by all means say something but otherwise you are sowing distrust and hate of the “other”.

This has nothing to do with privilege or privileged expectations. It's about safety--especially in a large city, whether you approve or not.

Sorry but a stranger making small talk in public is not an actual safety threat. It’s just a person talking. Criminals don't usually chat with you before they rob you in the actual big city. Just by the number of close calls among the DCUM set there must be a huge number of successful gang robberies taking place in Target stores region wide. Where are the crime reports? Or do these criminals just do a lot of talking but never actually strike?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y’all are hilarious. Do you walk out of your houses believing everyone you meet is out to rob you? I’m guessing you don’t get out much. Or travel.

They just want to sign up people for their church. That’s it. I’ve encountered them multiple times and they’re harmless.

In this day and time, with carjackings, muggings, purse snatchings, etc, I don't want anyone walking up to me and trying to initiate a conversation. Period.

This day? I have literally been on this planet for over half a century, and have literally never been, nor do I know of anyone carjacked, mugged, or snatched of a purse.

Oh I take that back I did know of an acquaintance who partied a little too hard in G-town, passed out in the gutter, and had his wallet and shoes stolen, I'm thinking he had it coming though, and the encounter did force him to take a long hard look at his bad habits. He shortly thereafter sought out a stint in rehab. So one might say his encounter with the criminal element actually saved his life.

Now as to those people so afraid of a carjacking that they stop at red lights and leave 3 car lengths in front of them, well let's just say they deserve to be carjacked, mugged, and snatched all at the same time. Strung-out junkies panhandling for their next fix, ignore, Gangs of evangelists, smile politely and ignore, gangs of professional beggars, a tip of the head to acknowledge their plight, if feeling generous impart a sympathetic look, and likewise ignore.

Angsty people taking up my space on the roadways... urghhhhh!

[Anonymous]

New PP here and had to find this post to say OP is 100% correct. I overheard an aggressively friendly woman trying to talk to another woman in the home decor section today at the very same Target, the Mosaic District one. She started commenting on the pillows and then immediately began complimenting the woman and asking if she’s from here. I was at the end of aisle and didn’t budge so I could hear the rest, luckily the other woman broke free when her husband or boyfriend showed up. It was very obviously not someone just trying to be friendly and nice- she had that weird MLM or cult vibe to her I swear. I wouldn’t have thought much of it if I hadn’t read this thread and it’s stuck in my head

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I rarely have anyone initiate random conversation in a store except maybe if we’re looking at similar items. (“Wow. Not much stocking stuffer candy left.”)

I would find it strange for pairs of people to persistently pursue seemingly random conversation too.

Classic DCUM to attack the OP or the underlying premise. Does it make you feel safer in your world to deny potential danger and malign the OP instead?

+1 Some of these posters are trying to pretend that criminals don't operate in this manner. Oh, yes they do. Criminals are looking for gullible victims, and many of them target people in stores and communicate with their fellow criminals who are in the parking lot.

Post a link or else you’re just making up scenarios in your own mind.

Not the PP you're addressing, but: You seem very invested in insisting this is all paranoia and all fabricated.

Why so insistent? If that's you who's written several of these "it doesn't happen/you're paranoid" posts, you sound oddly strident about attacking posters who are more cautious than you are.

That's...suspicious, actually. You're creating the very thing you claim PPs here shouldn't be feeling. Namely, suspicion.

So people with a different opinion are inherently suspicious? I am invested because I literally hate people like you that use innuendo to pin suspicion on others merely for having the audacity to not fall in line with your privileged expectations. Quirky people, poor people, people with mental illness etc. all get victimized by your false accusations. If you see an actual crime by all means say something but otherwise you are sowing distrust and hate of the “other”.

This has nothing to do with privilege or privileged expectations. It's about safety--especially in a large city, whether you approve or not.

Chantilly is nothing like a large city. You doing insane. Paranoia indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I rarely have anyone initiate random conversation in a store except maybe if we’re looking at similar items. (“Wow. Not much stocking stuffer candy left.”)

I would find it strange for pairs of people to persistently pursue seemingly random conversation too.

Classic DCUM to attack the OP or the underlying premise. Does it make you feel safer in your world to deny potential danger and malign the OP instead?

+1 Some of these posters are trying to pretend that criminals don't operate in this manner. Oh, yes they do. Criminals are looking for gullible victims, and many of them target people in stores and communicate with their fellow criminals who are in the parking lot.

Post a link or else you’re just making up scenarios in your own mind.

*sound insane



Not the PP you're addressing, but: You seem very invested in insisting this is all paranoia and all fabricated.

Why so insistent? If that's you who's written several of these "it doesn't happen/you're paranoid" posts, you sound oddly strident about attacking posters who are more cautious than you are.

That's...suspicious, actually. You're creating the very thing you claim PPs here shouldn't be feeling. Namely, suspicion.

So people with a different opinion are inherently suspicious? I am invested because I literally hate people like you that use innuendo to pin suspicion on others merely for having the audacity to not fall in line with your privileged expectations. Quirky people, poor people, people with mental illness etc. all get victimized by your false accusations. If you see an actual crime by all means say something but otherwise you are sowing distrust and hate of the “other”.

This has nothing to do with privilege or privileged expectations. It's about safety--especially in a large city, whether you approve or not.

Chantilly is nothing like a large city. You doing insane. Paranoia indeed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG like I would ever engage in conversation with a random at Target. This is like warnings about solicitors who are selling magazines. Like I would ever talk to those people in the first place.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Y’all are hilarious. Do you walk out of your houses believing everyone you meet is out to rob you? I’m guessing you don’t get out much. Or travel.

They just want to sign up people for their church. That’s it. I’ve encountered them multiple times and they’re harmless.

In this day and time, with carjackings, muggings, purse snatchings, etc, I don't want anyone walking up to me and trying to initiate a conversation. Period.

This day? I have literally been on this planet for over half a century, and have literally never been, nor do I know of anyone carjacked, mugged, or snatched of a purse.

Oh I take that back I did know of an acquaintance who partied a little too hard in G-town, passed out in the gutter, and had his wallet and shoes stolen, I'm thinking he had it coming though, and the encounter did force him to take a long hard look at his bad habits. He shortly thereafter sought out a stint in rehab. So one might say his encounter with the criminal element actually saved his life.

Now as to those people so afraid of a carjacking that they stop at red lights and leave 3 car lengths in front of them, well let's just say they deserve to be carjacked, mugged, and snatched all at the same time. Strung-out junkies panhandling for their next fix, ignore, Gangs of evangelists, smile politely and ignore, gangs of professional beggars, a tip of the head to acknowledge their plight, if feeling generous impart a sympathetic look, and likewise ignore.

Angsty people taking up my space on the roadways... urghhhhh!

You clearly haven't been to downtown Atlanta.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been known to talk to a stranger or two in Target. I will say hi to strangers I pass if we make eye contact. Once recently I had an ongoing convo w someone else —we were both trying to decide what plastic tubs to buy. We were both overwhelmed by having too many options to choose from. We conversed as we pulled down tubs and looked at them. Then I moved on when I got what wanted and wished her good luck.

What you describe OP and others sounds like a painful, fearful, fear mongering, closed-off way to live. You post as if you have no personal boundaries. No one wants you, is going to slip an AirPod in your bag (for what in God’s name would that help them do? And who is gonna toss a $99 AirTag away like that?) In all sincerity you sound troubled, hysterical, and unhinged. I can’t imagine going shopping with anything more than my intent to get what I need and continue on with my day. You sound overly anxious.

Maybe consider ordering your items online and have them brought to your car from now on. Keep your windows and doors locked til the target sales person identifies themself. This worry is taking up too much space in your mind rent free.