‘Don’t get fooled’: Orlando woman helps ‘homeless’ women at Target buy $100 of baby supplies. Then she realizes she was bamboozled
An Orlando woman thought she was doing a good deed by buying baby supplies for women in need. Instead, she says she was caught in a scam—and now she’s warning others.
“Do not help those people that be standing in front of Target,” the woman began in the clip.
In the clip, she recorded a group of women standing together in front of the store.
“Don’t let these people fool y’all,” she continued.
What Happened At Target?
Allegedly, Nathalie (@browncocainee) bought the women a cart full of items because they appeared to be homeless and in need. Instead, the Florida woman accused them of driving nice cars and scamming unsuspecting shoppers.
The video’s caption explained everything that happened:
“BEWARE!!!” the caption read. “Don’t fall for this scheme in Orlando Fl !!! I helped them pay for 100$ worth of gorceries and baby items. They came back with 2 carts full of food and baby clothes. I had to tell them the minimum budget is 100$. Which is 50$ a piece. After I helped them they flicked off because I realized they were not homeless! MILLENIA MALL LOCATION.”
How Can You Avoid Fake Donation Scams?
The Federal Trade Commission offers consumers advice for avoiding scams when trying to be a Good Samaritan.
Experts generally recommend verifying individuals or organizations before giving money or supplies directly, especially in informal or street-based requests. Donating through established shelters, verified community organizations, or known mutual aid groups reduces the risk of being misled.
It’s also advised to watch for red flags such as repeated vague stories, pressure to give immediately, or reluctance to connect donors with legitimate support channels. While most people in need are genuine, taking a few extra steps to verify can help ensure aid reaches the right place.
Backlash in the comments
In the comments section, the video also sparked a separate and more contentious discussion, with some users bringing up the Target boycott. Shortly after the election of Donald Trump, Target gutted its DEI policies, prompting backlash and a call for Black shoppers to avoid the retailer altogether.
The boycott resulted in a 1.7% sales loss and a significant loss of stock value for the company.
“Baby we not even supposed to be at target ??,” user _alexisdagreat wrote in a comment liked over 11,000 times.
“First off, we ain’t supposed to be at Target,” user K J echoed.
Nathalie is not the only person under scrutiny for shopping at the store. Back in March, Atlanta pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant called off the year-long “Target fast.”
The backlash was swift and severe.
Many Target shoppers, especially black women, descended on his social media page to say he didn’t speak for them.
However, Nathalie’s position seems to align with the pastor. Regardless of the boycott, she did not think anyone should be concerned about where she spends her own money.
“Why are you at Target?” user jasminerising commented.
“Why you minding where I spend my money?” the content creator shot back.
@browncocainee BEWARE!!! Don’t fall for this scheme in Orlando Fl !!! I helped them pay for 100$ worth of gorceries and baby items. They came back with 2 carts full of food and baby clothes. I had to tell them the minimum budget is 100$. Which is 50$ a piece. After I helped them they flicked off because I realized they were not homeless! MILLENIA MALL LOCATION. #milleniamall #orlandofl ♬ original sound – Babydoll J?
The Mary Sue reached out to Nathalie and Target by email for comment.
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