We've all heard the phrase, "No good deed goes unpunished," yet many refuse to heed the seemingly selfish warning because it feels right to spread kindness instead.
But somehow the universe proves, maybe not always but definitely time and again, that being a good Samaritan has a way of backfiring.
Take for instance TikToker Ariana Tomlinson who wanted to help pay for a woman's baby formula before realizing too late she and her boyfriend were being scammed, and now she's warning others.
Tomlinson was shopping in Target with her boyfriend where she claimed:
"The most insane thing that I've ever experienced happened to me today at Target."
She proceeded to urge viewers to listen carefully because she was nearly scammed out of $800. $800! At Target!
Tomlinson began her story:
"This lady was in the aisles while I was trying on, like, a bikini or something, and she asked my boyfriend if he could buy her formula."
He decided he wanted to help the woman, and when he told Tomlinson about the request, she wanted to help out, as well.
Tomlinson shared that as she doesn't have any children, she was unaware of the price of formula but did know it would be "a little pricey."
As they walked toward checkout, the TikToker explained:
"So she's telling us her little sob story... She has three kids, she's a single mom, she has to send her kids back to Bulgaria with her f**king mom..."
But Tomlinson shared that while the woman was attempting to distract them, she was filling the cart with other items.
As they were checking out, Tomlinson realized the woman was still trying to distract them. The woman then offered to give the TikToker her phone number in order to contact and pay Tomlinson back when she gets paid.
While originally Tomlinson was expecting to perform an unreciprocated act of altruism, she thought that since her birthday was coming up, being paid back wouldn't be such a bad idea.
But then she became alarmed.
"She gives me her phone number, and I call it."
"And she was like, 'Oh, I got it.'"
"Her phone did not light up. It did not ring."
"There wasn't a sound, there wasn't a vibration, nothing."
Then, Tomlinson looked at the checkout screen where she saw the bill was $800. She noted she and her boyfriend were absolutely shook at the total but didn't want to be "a**holes" and change their minds.
So they paid for it.
The TikToker's boyfriend handed the woman the receipt right before he and Tomlinson both realized they were getting scammed and the woman was going to return all the items.
So the boyfriend ran over and "smooth-talked" the woman to get the receipt back, but she did take a picture of it first.
They were unsure of what to do next, so they decided to talk to guest services about the situation.
And just before the first video cut off, Tomlinson revealed that in the return line was a woman - who looked very similar to the woman they just "helped out" - who was returning a cartful of baby items and listening very intently to their conversation.
You can watch part 1 below.
WARNING: NSFW language
@arianatomlinson2323 apparently this scam is very popular i cant believe i fell for it
In the second video, Tomlinson explained the Target manager told them there was nothing they could do without the actual items to accompany the receipt.
Then, as the couple walked to the parking lot, they noticed the second woman in the parking lot getting into a silver car.
And while the woman with the formula was not in the car, Tomlinson still had a feeling the two were connected.
“So I pull up right next to her…and she definitely saw me but I took a picture of her license plate.”
The creator decided to follow the woman and as they pulled out of the parking lot, a very similar car but in gold pulled out at the same time.
This is where things get even crazier.
The gold car then sped off, and the woman in the silver car blocked Tomlinson and her boyfriend!
Eventually, Tomlinson was able to catch up with the getaway car that was swerving all over the highway to attempt escape.
Finally, the woman pulled to the shoulder and puts on her hazard lights.
You can watch part 2 below.
WARNING: NSFW language
@arianatomlinson2323 Replying to @sab making part 3 rn
In the third and final installment, Tomlinson explained that she and her boyfriend decided to just calmly ask the woman for the items back because they didn't expect the total to be so high and they just couldn't afford it.
But Tomlinson shared they didn't have to talk to the woman at all:
"But before my boyfriend could even like fully get out of my car, she opened up her window, dropped the Target bag, like almost in the road... and then sped off."
The couple took the items back to Target, and the manager gave them a full refund for the items.
You can watch the last video below.
WARNING: NSFW language
@arianatomlinson2323 Replying to @Sara Michelle they had to open a new register and everything but they gave us cash so that we wouldnt have to wait for the funds to be available it was so sweet
While Tomlinson was able to get her money back in the end, she urged viewers not to make the same mistake.
“So we got the money back and everything but it was terrifying."
“If anybody asks you to buy baby stuff, don’t do it.”
We're happy they were able to get their money back, but unfortunately many have different outcomes.
Take heed, friends, and be careful!
@KeshaRose/X