Have you heard the recent online stories? Women are finding random water bottles on their cars or odd markings outside their homes, sparking concern. Viral videos suggest these may be tactics by kidnappers or traffickers targeting women. Some believe the code “1F” indicates “one female,” with the water bottle as bait to lure women from their cars.

One video shows a woman spotting a car with wire wrapped around the door handle in a parking lot, raising alarm. Another video surfaced with a man explaining that zip-ties, wire, or thread on car doors are tactics used to abduct women. He refers to it as “one of the oldest tricks in the book.”

However, Canadian police, where the “wire trick” was first mentioned in 2015, confirmed no kidnappings occurred because of this tactic. Anti-trafficking organizations haven’t recognized it as a trend either. Experts dismiss these warnings as urban legends or scare tactics, emphasizing that traffickers often operate online and target known individuals.

Stay alert, but don’t let fear take over. Together, we can build safer communities.