Atlanta drivers have been losing thousands to ‘water boys’ — here’s how the sneaky water-bottle scam works

As the heat increases in Atlanta, so is a new tendency in a small crime.

A group named “Su Boys yeni – young people who sell bottled water to passing cars – are accused of exploiting the generosity of drivers.

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Instead of charging a few dollars per bottle, it is claimed that some of them use the cash application to attract much more than agreed.

The two victims say they have lost over $ 1000 and think they only support a local summer hustle.

Tristen Richardson thought he had bought a $ 2 bottle of water until he reached an account of $ 1,100. He said that he was after delivering his phone to the young seller who claimed to “write the right user name”.

“My heart sank because I, my God, it’s like a big money,” he said FOX 5 Atlanta.

Here is how this deception emerges throughout the country and what you can do to guide clearly.

Drivers were taken for a journey

Sweltering is easy to deliver a few dollars to someone who sells bottled water in a day, but Richardson is not the only good -hearted driver who pays much more than expected.

At the beginning of this month, FOX 5 Atlanta He reported a similar event with a QR code.

In this case, a woman who wants to remain anonymous, a group of water children other than Interstate 20 and Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard in the hands of a QR code when she did not have lost $ 800, he said.

He aimed to give them $ 5, but after scanning the code on his phone, he disappeared from the $ 800 account without confirming the amount, entering a needle or using a fingerprint verification.

“None of these three verification methods were used. He said.

In another case, a Buckhead resident said that a group of young people were approaching at 18:00 while passing through Atlanta. After opening the cash application and revealing a balance of $ 12,000, they grabbed his phone. When he went out to get back, a young jumped to Range Rover and set out.

“I’m just shocked, ‘Dang, I didn’t expect like children,” he said to Fox 5.

And the risks seem to be increasing. The Atlanta police recently reported that a driver was kept with a gun before the phones were stolen near North Avenue and Williams Street.

Last month, Georgia Tech, an Atlanta College, reported four crimes, including an armed robbery, aggravated attack and deception near the campus in the campus police warnings.

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Don’t fall for this

Most victims just say they just want to help. They assumed that young people selling water were legal. However, experts warn that these events are part of a growing trend that is undoubtedly a part of a growing trend that is undoubtedly unprepared by Samaritans.

Rajiv GargProfessor of Information Systems and Operations Management at the University of Emory said that identity hunting fraud using QR codes is on the rise because more people trust digital payments.

Fox 5, “If you do not see where this QR code has taken you, this may be a scam,” he said.

If you want to stay safe, there are a few tips: no matter how reliable someone looks, never deliver your phone. If you prefer to pay digitally, open your payment application yourself and enter the amount and user name manually. And skip the random QR codes on the spot.

For peace, hold a few small invoices in your glove box. Old school, but keeps your account details away from the wrong hands. When you are there, check the safety settings of your application. Allow Pin or fingerprint verification For every process. It only takes a few taps, but it can quickly prevent scammers.

First of all, trust your instincts. If someone looks aggressive or tries to hurry to pay you, roll your window and apply it. This is Richardson’s new rule.

“If you are in Atlanta and passing through water children, I wouldn’t even press the finger -up window button,” he said. “Don’t even bother.”

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This article only provides information and should not be interpreted as advice. It is provided without any warranty.