It's best not to stop if you see a car seat with a cover on the side of the road. This is the warning issued by a message circulating on social networks in which readers are warned of the possibility of being beaten and not to throw eggs at the windshield. Although the dangers described are not completely far-fetched, there is no reason to believe that they pose a greater risk than many others. The message, in fact, is not based on real facts, given that it is a historical hoax that has been circulating since at least 2011.
For those in a hurry:
- A message is going around asking you not to stop if you see a car seat abandoned on the side of the road, because you risk being beaten or raped.
- It is also not recommended to use water if someone throws eggs on the windshield, as a milky mixture will form.
- The message is a historical hoax that often comes up in circulation.
- This information was also denied by state police.
Analyzes
Let's see a screenshot of one of the messages being checked (others can be found here and here). The description reads:
*I'll tell you what the State Police reported:* While driving down the road, if you see a child seat on the side of the road with a blanket on it, or any other object, *do not stop *. Call the *Police* or the *Carabinieri*, they will check. There are precautions to take before stopping, thieves are now using new and different ways to force a person (mostly women) to *stop the vehicle and get out of the car*. There are gangs who place objects on the street… with a fake child inside… waiting for someone to see the abandoned child. Please note that the location of this car seat is usually near a wooded area or meadow (field) and the person, if female, *is pulled* into the forest , *beaten and raped*, even reaching death. If it's a man, they are often *beaten* and *robbed* and may even leave him for dead. *Do not stop for any reason*. Call *112* or *113* and report what you saw, but do not stop. If you are driving at night and experience *eggs thrown at the windshield*, do not stop to clean it, do not use the windshield wiper or throw water because *eggs mixed with the windshield The water turns milky and blocks vision by more than 90%*, so you will be forced to stop on the side of the road and become a victim of these criminals. This is a new technique used by criminals, so tell your friends and family about it. New opportunities, new ways for these people to get what they want. This is what is happening now. *If you have read it, please send this message to as many people as possible*.
It's a historical hoax
The text reported in the post is that of an old hoax. As is often the case in these cases, there are no references to specific places or dates, so the same text can be reproposed even years later without having to modify it. In fact, a similar message, the same as the one shared in 2024, with a few details, was also broadcast in 2011, as reported in this article from August of the same year on Paolo Attivissimo's blog. The post was also the subject of a warning from state police, who posted a Facebook post in 2017 to confirm it was a historical hoax.
Conclusions
A message is going around asking you not to stop if you see a car seat abandoned on the side of the road, because you risk being beaten or raped. It is also not recommended to use water if someone throws eggs on the windshield, as a milky mixture will form. The message is a historical hoax that is circulating again. This information was also denied by state police.
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