Baby-faced scammers trick drivers in new scheme that’s stealing thousands
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It starts out harmless—a teenager approaches your car, offering to sell a bottle of water. You want to help, but don’t have cash, so you offer to pay with a digital app.
Within minutes, what should’ve been a $2 gesture becomes a loss of hundreds or even thousands.
In Atlanta, this growing scam is hitting drivers hard, and fast.
Tristen Richardson thought she was helping when she rolled down her window and offered to buy a $2 water bottle.
“He was like, let me just, let me just type in the right [username],” she explained in a TikTok video. Moments later, she discovered a $1,100 charge on her Cash App account.
“When he gave the phone back to me and I sent the payment, it was $1,100.” Another woman, who asked not to be named, reported losing $800 near Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard.
“Cash App usually has three methods of verification before any money is sent,” she told FOX 5 Atlanta. “None of those were used. They were all bypassed.”
QR codes are a key part of the scam, used to redirect users to fake payment pages or trigger unauthorized transactions.
“If you don’t see where this QR code is leading you to, it could be a scam,” said Dr. Rajiv Garg, professor of Information Systems at Emory University.
Some victims say the transfers happened without entering a dollar amount, fingerprint, or PIN. Scammers rely on a split-second of access to exploit payment apps.
Some encounters have turned violent when victims realized what happened and confronted the scammers.
Also read: A new phone scam is targeting seniors with fake health insurance deals—here’s what to know before you pick up
On March 22 near the I-75/85 off-ramp, a man reported being scammed and shot at by teens selling water. “Both sides fired shots, but no one was hurt,” witnesses told police.
On June 8, a group of teens allegedly pulled a gun and stole a driver’s phone before fleeing. Another man said he not only lost $1,500 via Cash App, but also his Range Rover after rolling down his window.
“They drained $1,500 from his Cash App before crashing the vehicle,” police reported. The car was found wrecked 4.5 miles away in southwest Atlanta. He’s now offering a reward for information.
Atlanta police say these aren’t isolated cases and that high-traffic intersections are turning into scam hotspots.
“Robberies are up 33 percent,” said Deputy Chief Prenzinna Spann, despite overall crime being down 11 percent.
These scammers are primarily targeting drivers who seem distracted or willing to help. Many victims admit they were just trying to be kind.
Victims say payment apps offer dispute processes, but they’re often slow and don’t guarantee refunds.
“I just wanted to help,” said the woman who lost $800. “Next time, I won’t be so quick to trust.” These stories show how fast good intentions can be turned against you.
Also read: Discover the smart scam alert that could protect your bank account!
Mayor Andre Dickens says the city is responding with long-term youth engagement strategies. “When we brought youth crime down, overall crime would come down,” he said.
“A big part of that is just giving our young people something to do.” Officials and cybersecurity experts are also urging the public to be extra cautious with digital payments.
Read next: Think twice before sharing that viral post—it could be a scam.
Have you encountered a similar scam or seen suspicious activity at a stoplight? Share your experience in the comments and help others stay safe by spreading awareness.
Within minutes, what should’ve been a $2 gesture becomes a loss of hundreds or even thousands.
In Atlanta, this growing scam is hitting drivers hard, and fast.
Tristen Richardson thought she was helping when she rolled down her window and offered to buy a $2 water bottle.
“He was like, let me just, let me just type in the right [username],” she explained in a TikTok video. Moments later, she discovered a $1,100 charge on her Cash App account.
“When he gave the phone back to me and I sent the payment, it was $1,100.” Another woman, who asked not to be named, reported losing $800 near Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard.
“Cash App usually has three methods of verification before any money is sent,” she told FOX 5 Atlanta. “None of those were used. They were all bypassed.”
QR codes are a key part of the scam, used to redirect users to fake payment pages or trigger unauthorized transactions.
“If you don’t see where this QR code is leading you to, it could be a scam,” said Dr. Rajiv Garg, professor of Information Systems at Emory University.
Some victims say the transfers happened without entering a dollar amount, fingerprint, or PIN. Scammers rely on a split-second of access to exploit payment apps.
Some encounters have turned violent when victims realized what happened and confronted the scammers.
Also read: A new phone scam is targeting seniors with fake health insurance deals—here’s what to know before you pick up
On March 22 near the I-75/85 off-ramp, a man reported being scammed and shot at by teens selling water. “Both sides fired shots, but no one was hurt,” witnesses told police.
On June 8, a group of teens allegedly pulled a gun and stole a driver’s phone before fleeing. Another man said he not only lost $1,500 via Cash App, but also his Range Rover after rolling down his window.
“They drained $1,500 from his Cash App before crashing the vehicle,” police reported. The car was found wrecked 4.5 miles away in southwest Atlanta. He’s now offering a reward for information.
Atlanta police say these aren’t isolated cases and that high-traffic intersections are turning into scam hotspots.
“Robberies are up 33 percent,” said Deputy Chief Prenzinna Spann, despite overall crime being down 11 percent.
These scammers are primarily targeting drivers who seem distracted or willing to help. Many victims admit they were just trying to be kind.
Victims say payment apps offer dispute processes, but they’re often slow and don’t guarantee refunds.
“I just wanted to help,” said the woman who lost $800. “Next time, I won’t be so quick to trust.” These stories show how fast good intentions can be turned against you.
Also read: Discover the smart scam alert that could protect your bank account!
Mayor Andre Dickens says the city is responding with long-term youth engagement strategies. “When we brought youth crime down, overall crime would come down,” he said.
“A big part of that is just giving our young people something to do.” Officials and cybersecurity experts are also urging the public to be extra cautious with digital payments.
Read next: Think twice before sharing that viral post—it could be a scam.
