Drivers have been warned "not to fall for" an unnerving "trap" while driving and are advised to keep their windows and doors locked.
Travelling on Britain's roads carries inherent dangers, and should you be involved in any type of crash, staying calm and safe is crucial.
According to Police UK, you have to "stop at the scene" as it's "a legal requirement to stop as soon as it is safe to do so". You should turn off your engine and activate your hazard lights, then assess whether you or your passengers have sustained any injuries.
While it's necessary to "exchange details with anyone involved" and "provide your insurance details if requested", there are situations where leaving your vehicle might feel unsafe.
Genevieve, who shares content online under the username Fitty Foodlicious, routinely posts "public safety tips for women" for her 59,000 Instagram followers.
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In a recent clip, she described a "bait trick" which could be a sign of a scam - or potential threat. The American content creator received a call from her friend who was "panicking" following an incident on the road.
She had been driving home from work and had stopped at traffic lights in a "quiet neighbourhood" when a "dark car pulled up behind her" and "very lightly tapped her bumper". Her friend immediately sensed something wasn't right.
Speaking in an Instagram video, Genevieve said: "This is potentially a human trafficking trick where they come up behind you, they tap your bumper, and then they try to get you out of your car and then they grab you."
Her friend was familiar with this "bait trick" and looked in her rearview mirror, spotting two men in the vehicle behind, who were wearing dark clothing but, given it was night-time, "she couldn't make out their faces".
The men were "motioning for her to get out of her car" and gesturing for her to "roll down her window" but she only lowered it slightly.
She could hear one of the men calling out, "Miss, we accidentally hit your bumper, you've got to get out" and insisting they needed to report the incident.
Feeling uncomfortable, the woman decided to drive away - but she didn't head home in case they were tailing her. Instead, she made her way to a nearby business with a "super busy" car park and went inside where she then rang the police. Upon examining her vehicle, she found no dent or any indication of damage whatsoever.
Genevieve continued: "I cannot for certain say that these two men were doing this to my friend tonight but I can say with certainty that this has been happening and it is a bait trick - whether they're trying to bump your car in order to rob you and take your purse, or to do something worse."
In her caption, she stressed: "If something similar happens to you, the best thing you can do is lock your doors and windows, do not get out of the car, and drive to a safe place, but whatever you do do not go home.
"You do not want to get yourself in a situation where they follow you home and they know where you live. The best thing you can do is go to a public place, go inside a business, and file a police report."
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1. Stay vigilant while driving to protect yourself from potential scams and dangerous situations.
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2. Awareness of such scams can help prevent serious threats like robbery or human trafficking.
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3. Similar tactics have been reported globally, highlighting the need for driver safety education.
