Over the past several years, social media has been rife with warnings of predators identifying potential victims by tagging vehicles. Some of these tactics reportedly include zip ties on a door handle or plastic water bottles wedged in a hub cab, or sitting on the hood.

Though authorities say these messages are merely “urban legends,” it’s still best to arm yourself with knowledge.

Keep reading to learn about one woman who found a water bottle on the hood of her car!

After a TikTok user had a creepy interaction with a stranger in a parking lot, she’s now warning people of dangerous situations involving “kidnapper tactics.”

Haley West explains that after finishing shopping, she was returning to her vehicle, parked in the lot of a Cincinnati supermarket.

As she made her way to her car, a man yelled out to her.

She claimed on TikTok: “I’m literally shaking right now the weirdest s**t just happened to me. I’m leaving Fresh Thyme and I’m parked in this big parking lot.” Detailing the encounter, she continues, “This guy was walking like kind of close to me, kind of not, but you could tell he was like staring at me while he was walking, and he yells over to me like ‘hey what’s your name?’ and I just ignored him, and I kept walking and he just kept following me.”

Ignoring him did not work and he continued tailing her through the parking lot.

“This man walks right up to my car and he’s like, ‘come check out my car it’s nice it’s a Lexus, you like it?’ Like it’s my car, though I didn’t react to that because that would have given away that it’s my car, although I think he already knows.”

Instead of getting into her car, West explains she went across the street – shopping bags still in her arms – until it was safe to return to her vehicle.