Urgent warning over sinister new scam as baby-faced criminals steal thousands from unsuspecting drivers

In Atlanta, a growing wave of street-level scams is turning routine traffic stops into financial traps.

The scammers are local 'water boys,' teenagers who approach cars at intersections under the pretense of selling bottled water.

But victims say they have been stung by unauthorized bank withdrawals after scanning QR codes presented by the group or giving their cellphones so the youngsters can enter their bank details.

Tristen Richardson is among those who have fallen prey to the scam after buying what she was told was a $2 water bottle earlier this month.

Instead, she found herself staring at a $1,100 transfer on her Cash App account.

'One of the boys came up to my window,' Richardson said in a TikTok video detailing the events.

She did not have cash with her, so she offered to send the money through Cash App. 

'He was like, let me just, let me just type in the right [username]. When he gave the phone back to me and I sent the payment, it was $1,100.' 

Richardson was scammed on June 7 and since then THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE SIMIALR INCIDENTS

Just days later, another man was duped out of $1,000. Both victims thought they were helping teens at a stoplight. 

A third victim, a woman who declined to be identified, lost $800 near the same intersection. 

She informed that the money got deducted from her account without her inputting a dollar amount, fingerprint, or pin. 

She scanned a QR code the teens offered. 

'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.' 

According to the reports, Joseph E Lowery Blvd seems to be to hotspot for these young scammers along with high-traffic intersections in Atlanta where the teens usually operate. 

Dr Rajiv Garg, a professor of Information Systems at Emory University, said phishing scams using QR codes are rising fast. 

'If you don't see where this QR code is leading you to, it could be a scam,' he told WHO DID HE TELL THIS TO?

He advised public these scams are becoming more common and one should only interact with trusted sources while initiating transactions electronically. 

'If you are aware on these happen and how these happen a little bit more,' he said, 'then you are essentially becoming educated on best practices for transactions on the Internet.'

Richardson, whose TikTok video after her loss went viral, has also filed a police report and is currently disputing the transaction with Cash App.  

'I've never heard of that trick,' she said.

Near Georgia Tech, just minutes from Joseph E Lowery Boulevard reports of aggressive and sometimes violent encounters with water boys are stacking up. 

On March 22, an officer responded to gunfire near the I-75/85 off-ramp. 

A man said teens selling water stole money through a payment app and then pointed a gun when he confronted them. 

Witnesses said both sides fired shots, but no one was hurt.

On May 2, a woman said four water boys stole from her phone app. 

When she pulled a gun in response, they ran. Another victim reported the same group had scammed him, too.

Then on June 8, three teens approached a driver at North Avenue and Williams Street. One flashed a gun and snatched the driver’s phone. They fled the area on foot.

In a separate case earlier this year, a metro Atlanta driver said water boys stole his phone and his Range Rover after he rolled down his window. 

They drained $1,500 from his Cash App before crashing the vehicle. He’s now offering a reward for information. 

The car was later found wrecked about 4.5 miles away in southwest Atlanta.

Deputy Chief Prenzinna Spann recently told city officials that although crime in Atlanta is down 11 percent overall, robberies are up 33 percent. 

Officials are now looking at systemic ways to reduce youth crime, including keeping teens engaged and off the streets.

Mayor Andre Dickens addressed the issue head-on. 'When we brought youth crime down, overall crime would come down,' he said. 

'And a big part of that is just giving our young people something to do.' 

According to cybersecurity experts law enforcement and payment platforms alike are now racing to catch up. 

Victims say that while refund processes exist, they're slow and offer no immediate relief.

'I just wanted to help,' the $800 victim said. 'Next time, I won't be so quick to trust.'