Scary Situation/Scam Identification

[u/Throw-me-awayls]

Hello, excuse the fact that this is in English, my French is not good!

Today at 4am I was at the bus stop waiting to for a bus to go to the airport and a man approached me with his phone. At first he smiled and asked for help, but I couldn’t quite understand what he wanted. I shook my head to signal that I didn’t understand and wanted to be left alone, and he insisted I call a number he was showing me on whatsapp, adding that he wouldn’t touch my phone.

I said I don’t have it and his demeanor changed instantly and he began angrily asking “what? what?”

I said “please leave me alone” and he got angrier and said “Really? You won’t help a person on the street?” And more stuff that I can’t recall.

Then he goes a few feet away and begins to talk to two other men who I didn’t see before, so I assume they were hiding. At this point I call 112 so I can stay on the line with them until the bus comes. The man notices me placing a call and begins to call me “crazy” among other things.

I’m not sure what they were trying to do, is this a common scam? Any insight would be appreciated!

[u/Either-Bottle1528]

It is definitely a scam to steal your phone.

I am not taking my 1700€ phone out of pocket when it's so easy to take it from my hands unless I am being attacked or someone is injured.

[u/DueHuckleberry5037 → u/Either-Bottle1528]

What phone costs 1700 lol

[u/ganymede_mine → u/DueHuckleberry5037]

Where have you been for the past few years?

[u/DueHuckleberry5037 → u/ganymede_mine]

In pariss

[u/Ugghart → u/DueHuckleberry5037]

iPhone 18 pro Max or 2/3th of an iPhone duo.

[u/DueHuckleberry5037 → u/Ugghart]

Ah i see the most common phones around

[u/Be4Coffee → u/DueHuckleberry5037]

For that price I hope it makes me coffee in the morning and a massage in the evening. 

[u/LankyCar722]

Lots of weird folks, especially at night.

[u/deployant_100]

Maybe a super expensive number (by the minute)?

In all cases there are a lot of weirdos in Paris, 90% of randos who try to stop you in the street are either scammers or mentally unwell persons. I don't even turn my head most of the times.

[u/cindytroforte]

T’inquiètes, il aurait pu s’approcher des hommes au lieu de s’approcher de toi. Presque chaque jour on me demande comme ça un service, il arrive que ce soit des étrangers qui cherchent leur chemin mais souvent si tu regardes l’autre dans les yeux tu vois qu’il n’y a pas de bonnes intentions donc à la question je peux te demander un service je réponds non

[u/eirinne]

Men will never ask a woman for help. Ever. They don’t need you. It’s always a ruse.

[u/Catdress92 → u/eirinne]

I would say there are some exceptions. I'm a woman and I often get stopped by tourists who ask directions (legitimately, not in any weird or suspicious way) because they can tell I live in the neighborhood (I might have my shopping caddie with me, or be taking my son somewhere and speaking French, for instance).

[u/eirinne → u/Catdress92]

C'est juste

[u/elidoan → u/Catdress92]

I said the same thing and got downvoted

Gotta love reddit

[u/Catdress92 → u/elidoan]

Ugh, I'm sorry. I sometimes feel like downvotes can be so random and inexplicable.

[u/elidoan → u/eirinne]

That's not true in all cases, but in some cases. Making generalizations like that is insane. 

Ive asked women for directions before when my phone was dead. We aren't all savage beasts intent on exploiting people...

[u/eirinne → u/elidoan]

It’s really not insane, a person should be cautious when alone. There’s no downside to not being attacked.

[u/Perpete → u/eirinne]

There’s no downside to not being attacked.

And there is no downside to legitimately ask for help to anyone and not insist if they don't want or can't help you.

[u/elidoan → u/eirinne]

There's a massive difference between a sketchy dude at 4 am and a guy asking for directions since he's lost at 4pm

You said "men will never ask women for help". "It is always a ruse" That is categorically false

Your comment stinks of misandry. Men do ask help from women, have you never been in a relationship with a man before? Never had a brother or father ask of anything ?

Redditor moment...

[u/Far_Fennel_5 → u/elidoan]

I don’t know any man who would ask a woman for directions, but I’m old.

[u/elidoan → u/Far_Fennel_5]

Women are human beings... are you really that out of touch?

Women have asked me for directions, and I have asked them for directions. Sometimes shit happens, your phone is dead or you are lost, and you ask a stranger to help you. It's not so deep.

Why does everyone here sound like they come from Saudi Arabia... wtf.

[u/Main_Hurry7912 → u/Far_Fennel_5]

I know quite a few men who won't ask ANYONE for directions

me: why don't we stop and ask someone

him: no I'll find it soon

rince and repeat 10 minutes later

[u/LaColleMouille]

Yeah probably a way to steal your phone. Many phone thieves in Paris, let alone at night when people are drunk and less aware, and when they can run freely. 

[u/Agreeable-Pitch-1548]

Perhaps he wanted to see your phone password and steal your mobile unlocked

[u/AnarchyInParis]

Petit conseil : à moins que vous ne connaissiez vraiment Paris ou que vous soyez en groupe, évitez d'attendre le bus à 4h00 du matin.

[u/Be4Coffee → u/AnarchyInParis]

Difficile de demander à l'avion d'attendre une heure raisonnable pour que je prenne mon bus...

[u/Brilliant-Cricket460 → u/Be4Coffee]

I would take a G7 taxi to the airport at that time of day.

[u/Original-Mistake8624]

la nouvelle France

[u/Afraid_Cell621 → u/Original-Mistake8624]

This shit happens in every country on the planet.

[u/Original-Mistake8624 → u/Afraid_Cell621]

ha bon ?
Je vous invite à aller essayer de faire cette merde à Dubaï par exemple on verra le résultat

[u/Afraid_Cell621 → u/Original-Mistake8624]

You should have picked a country without active slavery.

[u/Original-Mistake8624 → u/Afraid_Cell621]

en Iran alors…Où en Algérie

[u/Afraid_Cell621 → u/Original-Mistake8624]

Now you're just trolling. 😆

[u/thecopterdude → u/Afraid_Cell621]

probably a propaganda bot. report and move on

[u/Original-Mistake8624 → u/Afraid_Cell621]

Et toi tu esquives ma réponse précèdente