Woman’s Good Deed at Target Backfires After Homeless Duo Demands the Receipt for ‘Donated’ Baby Formula: ‘Almost Got Scammed’
That does sound suspicious.
Charitable gestures toward the homeless are generally commendable acts of community support. But when a good deed is met with a suspicious request, genuine goodwill can evaporate in a heartbeat. For digital creator @dosesofnypt2, an attempt to assist a duo with baby formula at Target turned into a lesson in modern scam tactics.
In a TikTok storytime sitting at over 2,700 views, the creator recounted her alleged near-miss with a common retail scam. The creator allegedly stepped up in goodwill to purchase essentials for a self-proclaimed homeless duo. However, she ended up snatching the items back.
In the video, the creator explained the red flag in the interaction and warned her audience of the alleged scam. Sitting in her car, she showed the baby formula and claimed that she now has to march straight to customer service.
A Quiet Shopping Trip to Target Turned Into a Solicitation for Expensive Baby Formula
The encounter allegedly unfolded while the creator was standing in the checkout queue at Target. There, she claimed that she was approached by a young woman accompanied by her mother. The duo allegedly handed over a written note to her, implying they were homeless and unable to speak English.
Communicating through gestures and broken phrases, the woman gestured toward her cart, which contained lactation supplies and multiple containers of baby formula. The duo then reportedly asked for financial assistance from the creator to feed her child.
Willing to help out, the creator offered to purchase one of the smaller cans of baby formula on her ticket.
“First of all, hold on, girl, you better breastfeed if you in this situation… But okay… I’ll get the small can, right? I didn’t ask how much it was… cause I’m feeling bad, I need to do my good deed every now and again when I can, right?”
A Suspicious Demand for the Receipt Exposed the True Intention Behind the Donation
After paying for the item and handing the bag over outside the register lane, the interaction took an immediate turn. According to the creator, the woman suddenly asked for the physical purchase receipt. She allegedly claimed that her shelter required written documentation to verify that the family wasn’t spending personal funds.
Recognizing the classic setup used to return donated goods for immediate cash or store credit, the creator’s patience ran out instantly. “You know what, ma’am? Give it here!” she declared, taking the bag back on the spot. “So now I gotta return formula. Don’t play with me, girl.”
Why Receipt Demands Around High-Value Retail Items Raise Red Flags
Soliciting high-ticket, easily resold items like baby formula in retail aisles is a widespread, structured scam strategy. Fraudulent operations frequently target compassionate shoppers near checkout registers. Sometimes, they may utilize fake language barriers or written notes to bypass direct conversation.
Once a sympathetic bystander purchases the item, the recipient demands the paper receipt. They do it often under the guise of shelter rules or personal record-keeping. This is because Target’s return policy requires the receipt to return an item and claim a refund.
The receipt is then used to return the item at another register or store location, converting a stranger’s charitable intent into direct cash. A similar incident happened to an Orlando woman, after she spent $100 to help the “homeless” near her local Target.
Reflecting on the near-miss from her car, the creator expressed frustration over how easily charitable instincts can be exploited by bad actors. “Oh my god… I just almost got scammed,” she exclaimed.
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