What should’ve been a two-dollar act of kindness turned into a $1,100 nightmare for Tristen Richardson. She said she rolled down her window for a group of “water boys” selling bottled water at an Atlanta intersection. When she offered to send money through Cash App, one of the teens insisted on typing in the username himself. Moments later, the payment went through…except it wasn’t two dollars. It was more than a thousand.
She’s not the only one. Another driver reported losing $1,000 the same way, at the same intersection. In a third case, a woman off Interstate 20 near Joseph E. Lowery Blvd said she scanned a QR code and unknowingly sent $800.
The “water boys” scam
The scam works when so-called water boys, typically teens hawking plastic bottles of water to thirsty drivers, end up with customer phones. It happens quickly and subtly. The vendor will “check” to make sure the transaction information is correct.
Victims say they expected a quick digital tip, but once the teen is holding the device, they type in a much larger amount and send the payment before giving the phone back…