Are rapists using crying children to lure victims?

A series of rumours are claiming that criminals – including gang members and rapists – are using crying children at the side of the road to lure female motorists.

The rumours can actually be traced back to around 2005 and back then had circulated prolifically in the form of chain emails, warning that a “new trend” for criminals was to use crying children on the side of the road to lure female motorists into stopping their cards and thus making themselves vulnerable.

Most versions of the rumour asserted that the crying child would hand the would-be victim a piece of paper with an address written on it, claiming it to be their home. The aim is to lure the victim to the address on this piece of paper, as this is where – according to these warnings – the rapist is holed up, awaiting the arrival of their prey.

Sponsored Content. Continued below...

Despite no credible evidence or any media or police reports corroborated such a type of crime, the emails spread prolifically from user to user, attributing the crime to various parts of the United States and coming from various law enforcement agencies.

The below version of the rumour circulated in 2010 –

FEMALES BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!. If u find a child cryin on the road/street showing there address and asking u to take them home, DONT DO IT! Instead take them to the police station or ring the police. What ever u do don`t go to the address. This is a new way for gang members to rape female`s. Its already happend in leeds so don`t let it happen to u,

An earlier, more detailed version spread in 2005 –

I am not sure when did this happen, but it is best to be careful and safety comes first.
She was just discharged from the hospital…Today after office hours, I heard from my sister-in-law that there is a new way to rape women.
It happened to one of our good friends. The girl left the office after working hours and saw a little child crying on the road.
Feeling pity for the child, she went and ask what happened.
The child said, “I am lost. Can you take me home please?” Then the child gave her a slip and tell the girl where the address is.
And the girl, being an average kind person, didn`t suspect anything and took the child there.
And there when it arrived the “childs home”, she pressed the door bell, yet she was shocked as it the bell was wired with high voltage, and fainted. The next day when she woke up, she found herself in an empty house up in the hills, naked.
She has never even get to see the face of the attacker…
Thats why nowadays crimes are targeted on kind people. Next time if the same situation occurs, never bring the child to the intended place. If the child insist, then bring the child to the police station.
Lost child are best to send to police stations.
Please send this to all your female friends.

This version can be traced back to 2010 and again it spread prolifically in 2017 –

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Message for each and every girl who go to college
or office alone. If u find any child crying on road
showng his/her address and asking you to take
him/her to that address, take that child straight
away to police station and plz dont take them to
that address. It is a new way of a gang to steal,
rape & kidnap girls. Plz Forward all girls & also
boys who having sisters & friends.
Plz dont feel shy to forward this message.. Our one
message may save a girl.
This message is Published by CNN & NDTV. Plz
circulate & Plzzz forward this message at any cost
plzzzz, Think that ur saving ur lover, sisters, cousin
sisters ,mother, wife ……….n……. life.
By sending one msg you are saving 100000000 life
I know u will do it so just do it…!!!

A slightly later version spread in 2011, attributing the warning as coming from the Miami-Dade Police Department –

This is from a County Sheriffs Department, please read this message very carefully. This message is for any lady who goes to work, college or school or even driving or walking the streets alone. If you find a young person crying on the road showing you their address and is asking you to take them to that address… take that child to the POLICE STATION ! ! No matter what you do, DON’T go to that address. This is a new way for gang members to rape women. Please forward this message to all ladies & guys so that they can inform their sisters & friends and family. Our 1 message may save a life. Published by CNN & FOX NEWS (Please circulate)..**Please DO NOT IGNORE ! Thank you

All versions of the rumour were totally unsubstantiated, and the latter example was specifically rebuked by the Miami-Dade Police who stated they have not issued any such release –

At this time, the Miami-Dade Police Department has not issued such a release nor have we received any reports to substantiate these claims. If you receive such e-mail, please do not forward. We do, however, urge the public to use caution should they come across a questionable incident that involves the aforementioned scenario. When in doubt, do not stop to render aid, call 9-1-1 and provide the information to the police.

It is worth noting that this legend bares a number of similarities to an equally spurious hoax that claimed criminals were using baby car seats – not crying children – as their draw. That rumour too, failed to stand up to scrutiny.

Given the longevity of this particular “crying child” tale, its alarmist nature, its ability to cross the globe in varying permutations and its apparent aptitude to survive so long without ever having any corroborating evidence to support its claims, it must have by now earned itself one of the top spots for the “scarelore” urban legend category.