40+ People Spill Their Creepiest Stranger Encounters

Ever get that gut feeling something was off? For a lot of people, it came from a total stranger - weird phone calls, being followed, or men who just shouldn’t have been near them. These Reddit users shared real stories that will make your skin crawl. Read on, and don’t be surprised if the hairs on your neck stand up.

Polaroids, Tailgating, And Late-Night Stares

One Redditor was playing by a trailer park when a man rolled up in a convertible, flashed a Polaroid and insisted she come closer to check it. Another was followed for miles on a dark back road, the tailing car copying every signal until a blue light went off and police intercepted him. At a midnight gas stop someone noticed a man slowly sneaking up behind his wife, and only a loud intervention sent that guy running. Small, quiet moments that could have ended so differently.

Fake Security Calls And Hotel Scares

A 12-year-old woke in a hotel to phone calls from someone claiming to be security who wanted doors unlocked, and later felt someone tugging on the handle. While vacationing in Thailand, a user watched a stranger try to talk their 12-year-old cousin into smoking, then felt followed all the way back to the hotel. Another person had a man park his bike directly in front of their car, stare for half a minute, then sit down next to them and say, 'hello my friend.' It’s the tiny invasions that stick with you.

Cartoon Kids, Laughing Men, And Strange Requests

Two kids sat in a K-Mart TV room while their uncle hunted a salesperson, and men tried every trick to lure them out until one man grabbed the little sister and she wet herself, which finally brought the uncle back in time. A child stared at a man in a fast-food restaurant who laughed and howled and then locked eyes with the kid in a way that left a mark for years. In Waikiki, a homeless man began imitating laughter and then sprinted toward a pair of tourists, turning a weird moment into a sprint for safety. Those random encounters can turn a normal day into a memory you never forget.

Packages, Vans, And Threats Up Close

Someone working at an office got a package of photos with no return address and realized the sender was a red-haired guy who’d just been in the office; they turned the pictures over to the postmaster and he lost his job. A gold van once swung open by a driveway and a group of women nearly stepped out until a mom came running and the van sped off. Another person had a man pull up, get out with no pants on, then drive off after spotting them. And one Redditor had a robber point a rifle at them while demanding their wallet; they dropped a dollar and ran. These are the moments that make you lock the door and double-check the kids.

Hotel Intrusion

U/kosherhalfsourpickle: "I was 12yo and staying with my parents at a hotel in Dallas. I was in the adjoining room. At some point in the evening I got a call on my hotel phone and answered it. A man claiming to be hotel security told me to unlock my door so they could do security checks when they do their rounds. I told him okay and hung up. I then went to my folks room and told them to unlock their door so security could check on them. Clearly my folks were upset and explained that the door locks were there to protect me. Later that night I awoke to pulling on my door. It was creepy..."

Nighttime Encounter

U/whiteoff44: "I’ve been on vacation recently in Thailand and I was walking with my 12 year old cousin in the middle of the night to go buy some snacks from the grocery. I left the store for a couple of mins to answer a phone call and when I got back a white man was standing next to him asking him if he wanted to smoke...so I just walked infront of him and blocked his view from my cousin and told him to leave. While we were walking back to the hotel I could feel someone behind us and kept looking back every now and then. When I entered the lobby of the hotel I saw him walking away from us. That 10 min walk back to the hotel, I was so scared and creeped out that he’d do something to us."

Bicycle Arrival

U/Sninxitey: "Recently I had a complete stranger park his bicycle right in front of my car while I was sitting on a small venue curb with some friends. He starred at me for 20-30 seconds then sat down right next to me and said 'hello my friend.' I’m usually pretty nice to people and good in situations like this but something made me feel so weird that I got up and went back inside. That was like 2-3 weeks ago."

Creepy Laughter

U/1980pzx: "When I was a kid, around 6 years old , My folks and I were eating at a fast food joint called Rax’s (Arby’s type place in the 80’s) and there was this creepy old man in there eating that was laughing maniacally. It freaked me the f--- out. This guy had a very uncanny way about him and I just froze, couldn’t eat and could hardly speak, I was absolutely petrified. To this day I still get the chills thinking about that old dude."

Eerie Moments

U/SkydivingSquid: "My cousin and I were walking through Waikiki a few years back and we laughed about something pretty loud. A homeless man imitated our laughter in an almost caricature way...but then kept doing it and began running towards us (from behind), laughing in the same way we did but getting louder and louder...we started running because at this point he was in a full sprint. No idea what the f--- that was about. Outside of that, my cousin and I were maybe 9 or 10 and were playing in the yard at my grandmothers house. Blue van pulls up on the side of the road, no windows.. and two guys get out with it still running and start walking towards us.. we ran inside the house and got an adult.. and they peel off.. I 100% believe they intended to kidnap us."

Witchly Visit

U/NonbinaryZombie: "When I was about 5, I saw a lady wearing old timey clothing walk into our church. I thought she looked like a witch and was scared. She came right to the kid section and asked our Sunday school teacher if she could teach the kids. Nobody knew her, this was a small church. Our teacher obviously declined, and the lady became grumpy and left. It always stuck with me as the first time I got bad vibes from someone. Never saw her again."

Menacing Offer

U/Atheist_Alex_C: "I was walking in my city and a random guy rode up on a bicycle and asked very forcefully that I buy some h----- off of him. I politely said 'no thanks, I’m not interested' and he kept insisting. After the 3rd 'no,' I turned around to walk away and he started yelling at me that he better not see my face again or he was going to kill me, and made threats against my family too if he ever saw them with me. I just calmly walked back home hoping I wasn’t about to get mugged or shot. Nothing ever happened and I know these people are all talk most of the time, but it was still scary. I actually saw that guy again a few months later (his appearance was very unmistakable), but he didn’t seem to recognize me that time and nothing happened."

Lasting Kindness

U/Lanky_Voice8115: "When I was around nine, my family went to visit my great grandparents at the nursing home. The dining area had rolling chairs I would always zoom around on, and a random old lady called me over to her, presumably to tell me I was being dangerous or loud or something. She took my hand and just told me I was a good boy. I was pretty confused, because usually my rolling around on the chairs annoyed everyone. Then she said, 'take part of me,' and I started to wonder if she was getting me mixed up with one of her own grandkids and why someone needed to take part of her. The next time we visited the nursing home I couldn’t find her, so I think she was dying and wanted someone to remember her before she passed away."

Unwanted Mail

U/oreducks12: "I was in my mid 20’s and working at a small insurance company. Some of the guys in marketing had a potential client come I and introduced him around. They all left for lunch and came back d----. I didn’t pay any attention to them and kept on working. Pretty soon the potential client left. Four days later I received a small package with no return address. Upon opening it I discovered 6...pics. I recognized the sender because of his red hair! It was the d---- potential client. I was upset as I lived alone and was fearful so I went to the post office and turned the pictures over to the postmaster general. Apparently the post master confronted Mr. D Pic and he lost his job!"

Vanishing Threat

U/Enough_Speed_2038: "I was playing basketball in the driveway when I was about 7 years old. This gold van pulls up in front of the driveway and swings open the side door and I see a group of women who are about to get out. My mom came outside and they quickly swung the door shut and sped off… creeps me out thinking about what could have happened had she not come out in that moment."

Hillside Disturbance

U/heathers1: "Summer after 7th grade I was waiting alone for the Summer School bus. it was at the bottom of the street. The hill went up into the development and the first houses on either side were far enough that they wouldn’t be a place of refuge. Some dude pulls in in a beater and goes up the hill. Ok, it’s the 70s… probably a friend of someone’s older brother, whatever. Drives back down the hill, stops right in front of me… no pants on."

Porch Painter

U/Haunted_Souls: "Old lady followed me while i was walking my dog. i walked past her while she was painting her porch and she just started following me. she continued for a few streets until i ran into a random persons backyard and hid behind some bushes. I called my mum (i was a kid, i don’t remember how old, maybe 12-13?) after a while i sprinted back to my house. her porch is still half painted and i’ve never seen her since."

Daily Disturbance

"A lady tragically passed away while traveling on a plane with her 3-year-old daughter in her embrace. The little one was crying non-stop, attempting to recount what had occurred to her mother during the flight. Suddenly, she extended her hand to me placing a peculiar item in my palm. It was a silver ring, and when I took a closer look, I saw it was engraved on the inside with today’s date—the day she died. My blood ran cold and I had no idea how to react."

Stolen Identity

"While I was on the honeymoon with my wife, I had a really strange encounter with a man who looked much like my father, who had passed away a few years ago. I remembered at that time that I read somewhere that in the world there are seven people with the same looks. I thought it must be right. Later on that day, when we went to the hotel, we met him again there, and after hearing his name, it actually turned out to be my father. I was really shocked by it, so I approached him to ask about it, and he told me that he was my father’s long-lost twin who had stolen his identity after my father passed away to escape his debts. I was shocked and desperate to hear more, but he never showed up at the hotel bar where we’d agreed to meet. To this day, I still don’t know if he was telling the truth."

Stranger Danger

"When I was 14, I went to sleep at my typical time and woke up two days later in the morning. I went downstairs panicking and asked if my family knew I had been sleeping for two days and what had happened. They totally ignored my question, and they told me to sit down and have some breakfast. As I looked around me, wiping the sleep from my eyes, I realized that it wasn’t my family after all. I had found myself surrounded by complete strangers. They acted like everything was normal. I was terrified and started screaming until my real mom, dad, and brother burst through the door. It had all been a prank but I’ll never forgive them."

Deadly Demand

U/Hickawa: "Had a guy in a dark ally ask me if I was willing to die for my wallet. I said no and that he's welcome to take the dust from it because I was broke to. He told me to take out my wallet and I did. It had a dollar in it and be told me to give it to him so I dropped it and took off running. I looked back and he was standing in the street with a rifle. He absolutely could have shot me. Still loosens the bowls when I think about it."

Sinister Guest

U/SumBum09: "One of my friends back in hs brought a stranger over to my house. Wasn’t too out of the ordinary, since my house was the party house. This guy though was just sitting in the corner quietly the whole time. I don’t think he said a word to me, but he had kind of a sinister feeling about him. Fast forward a month later, my friend tells me, the guy he brought over did a b&e, that went wrong. The owners we home, so he sat them on their knees and executed them. Supposedly his case got dropped because of a technicality. All of this was told to my from the friend, that brought him over. I don’t know how true it is, but the sinister feeling I got from the stranger, I wont ever forget."

Bakery Chills

U/Coffeepot_fox: "I walked into a bakery the guy that was behind the counter sent every alarm off in my brain. He looked absolutely normal and was polite as can be. But he just gave me chills. He watched me out the window all the way to my car. A women was assaulted a couple nights later outside that same bakery. I'd be willing to bet money it was the same guy."

Stranger Danger

U/Zealousideal_Call381: "I grew up in a rural area in Australia famous for merino wool. Once a year the town would have a stud ram auction and people would come from everywhere. One year when I was 9 or 10 (mid 1980's), me and a friend were waiting at the local shop after school and a beat up old car with 4 rough looking guys pulled up and asked us if we wanted to go for a drive... I said no and started backing away, my friend didn't hear what they said and started walking towards the car asking what they said. I yelled his name and the car sped off down the street. When I told my mother she brushed it off like it was nothing."

Chilling Nearness

U/mibonitaconejito: "My sister was a young woman in Tampa in the 80s. One evening her boyfriend's raquetball partner came by to meet her bf for their match. Her bf called, saying he was running late so she invited the guy, Bobby, in to wait. He was a really nice. They sat, had a couple drinks, laughed and talked. She said he was very normal, never once gave her a chill. A couple months later, she's doing house stuff when her bf hollers for her from the other room. She goes running in, and on the news is Bobby. He was being arrested for murdering several women and was caught because his last victim managed to get away. Serial killer Bobby Joe Long. Where he'd dumped bodies was dotted all around near their apartment, within days of hanging out with her boyfriend."

Brit in Cop Shop

U/gegorb: "We were in California on holiday. Me and my missus were going to Santa Barbara from L.A. We got lost and were nearly out of fuel. I saw a Police Station ahead. It was nighttime and I thought the cops could direct me to a gas station. I parked up and walked in. There were four cops in the station and when I breezed in they s--- a brick and went for their guns. My knees turned to jelly and I put my hands up and said 'I’m British !!' The tension in the room dropped a bit and they gave me directions. They were really unfriendly and I got the feeling I’d made a mistake. I told my brother who we were staying with and who lived there and he pissed himself laughing and said your lucky they didn’t shoot you."

Unwanted Cyclist

U/GoldenHind124: "I was heading home one evening from the downtown core by metro (subway). As soon as I left the terminal station and started walking towards my home (about 20 minutes away), this dude cycles up to me, slows down and starts asking me all sorts of questions (i.e. how you doing? Where you going? Wanna chat?). I’m doing everything possible to shake this weirdo off with short and curt (but kinda polite) answers. Eventually, I turn down where I live and bolted. He yells: 'Bye! You’re pretty! I live (where he lives)!'"

Giving the Creeps

U/szzzn: "In about 2011, my then girlfriend and I (now my wife), went backpacking through Europe. We went to Delirium in Belgium and some random guy approached me, claimed he lived in New York City, he had a foreign accent, and he carried an American flag in his jacket for some reason. He was sitting at our table later on, uninvited. And I told him we were meeting up with a big group of us so we had to go. (We weren’t with a big group, just the two of us). But he gave me the creeps. Innate bad vibes feeling. Such a weird energy to feel."

Meeting the Killer

U/Backpayne80: "Not me, but in 1999 or 2000, my mom was moving into her new home and while things were being unloaded, she was approached by this nice older man, just shooting the s---. They spoke for about 10-15 minutes then he left. She had no idea who he was until she saw his picture on the news for being a freaking serial killer! His name was John Edward Robinson."

Talk and Run

U/Time-Kaleidoscope-98: "I was alone at a gas station at dawn when a CREEPY man in his 40’s approached me from out if nowhere. Had the big teeth when he smiled. Looks like he hasn’t showered in days. Started small talk and even suggested that we take a trip. Me being an overly nice person spent way too long talking to him and realized it as he was lingering. A car even past by and flashed his high beams on. That’s when I made a run for it and skiddaddled outta there!"

Genuine Fear

U/Ornery_Art8158: "When I was really young, about 6-8 years old, I was at an aunts house in a different city for some kind of party. I wandered off, ended up by some railroad tracks near the under side of a bridge that had foliage on either side obscuring the view to the dark under belly. A couple of older kids walked out and tried to get me to follow them under the bridge where no one would be able to see us. My spider sense immediately went off. There was just something about the way the older kids were smiling and looking at me that creeped me the f--- out. To be fair the memory is a bit hazy being so long ago but I definitely remember how it made me feel. That was the first and only time I ever felt genuine fear."

Bar Disturbance

U/Citrine_Bee: "I was in a bar and this guy had been hanging around me a bit but just kind of being awkward, like coming up talking a bit, then disappearing, then coming up to me again, just acting a bit strange and shifty. Then at one point he comes up to me, picks me up from behind so my arms are kind of pinned and carries me a few metres across the bar and puts he down and he’s going ‘Look at that! Look how easy I could do that! Look how easy’ but he was like saying it to himself, like he was practicing and just disappeared again. Was really creepy."

Inner Alarm

U/Commissar9: "As a kid (like 12?) skateboarding around the softball fields (my sister was practicing there with her team) a middle aged guy (and maybe like a teen? A younger man for sure) started talking to me and my buddy. He asked if there were any good skate spots around. I said they were gonna build a skatepark here soon, but other than that there's just some good hills to bomb around here. He asked if we would like to come along with him and show him and said he could give us a ride back. My inner alarm started going off and we got the h--- out of there. Still crazy to me looking back and thinking about how close I probably was to being kidnapped."

Startling Bus Stop

U/Extension-Type-2555: "I was looking for a bus on the street. I saw one, did some hand signals and the driver pulled over. i went up to the passenger window with the intention of asking the driver if he's going where I'm going or not, the man in the passenger seat looked at me in such a way that just froze me. I couldn't speak and it felt so f------ weird, I was stunned without explanation. after a solid 5 seconds the driver said 'YEA?' and I could only say 'location's name me are you going to me house?' and the driver just drove off. it was so weird."

Nice Guys.

U/spaghettihax763: "When I was 18 I was working at my local Publix when a customer comes by, nice guy, we talked while I scanned & bagged his items. After he left I worked the rest of my shift (about 20 minutes), but when I was walking to my car I saw that same guy. He noticed me and asked me for my Snap. He was a nice guy, seemed pretty innocent so I gave it to him. I go to my car and not even a minute later he sends a d pic. I was so caught off guard and disturbed because I'm also a guy. 4 years later and anytime I remember that it still sends shivers down my spine."

Mystery Grin

U/TMac1088: "I was in New Orleans building houses post-Katrina. On our one night free, a pair of friends and I went to Bourbon St, as you do. Walking past an alley, there's a guy lingering there that was like a cross between Baron Samedi and current Johnny Depp. He locked eyes with me from 10-20 feet away, and a creepy grin stretched across his face while he extended a hand to point at me and nod in my direction. We pass him, I look back literally 2 or 3 steps beyond him, and he's gone. Neither of my friends saw him. Chalked it up to weird New Orleans s---, but still creeped me out."

Ms. Stalker

U/Squall0123: "I went to pick up chinese food, and after leaving, a woman started following me and started saying we were destined, things of that nature, I didn't respond. She was quiet pretty. Seemed strange, I looked to see if she was trying to get away from someone, didn't look it. Once I got back to my car, she stood at the door expecting to get in. I called my gf and said, 'Hey babe, I've picked up dinner, and I'll see you soon.' Hoping the woman would take the hint. The woman pulled a deranged face at me and then proceeded to walk away. That face is a core memory."

Close Call

U/squirrelbabe: "This is about the time I was 12 when we lived in India. We lived in a house that had the main house then some porch area quite long and then the gate..so this one guy approaches the gate and as kids we don't go that far till gate ever. But I have no idea how I got lured and he started talking to me that he had to lift some heavy stuff and needed hand so I could go with him to help. I was kind of hypnotized that I walked out of the gate and walked about 200 mt from my house but something clicked and told him I have to tell my mom and he insisted but I ran back.. told my mom.. and all h--- let loose and my father was called but we never found him. That was a close call. I shiver to think what could have happened to me."

Persistent Porsche

U/ivansh_92: "I was walking down the avenue to get to the subway station, and looking sideways I noticed a car going really slow, which was odd because there was no traffic jam or anything, then look again and the car is just moving as the same speed that I'm walking... I take a good look and it was a brand new Porsche 911 turbo, I was like wow cool car and keep walking, but then I started to hear a voice, and the guy inside was saying 'hi' so I stopped thinking he will ask for directions or something and I take a look at him he's like 65 years old, facial plastic surgery and obviously g-- and proceed to tell me 'how you doing?' 'where are you going?' 'get in' I just said no thanks, he finally gave up after following me for 500 meters."

Instinctive Flee

U/janeybabygoboom: "Back in the day my job was to meet clients in their home, to discuss business. I'd done loads of these house calls, probably hundreds at this point. I rang the doorbell, the home owner answered the door, and I just looked at him and said, loudly, out of instinct/fear, 'NO!'. There was something so wrong with this man, that I literally turned and ran."

Creepy Offer

U/Lord_Funyun: "I'm 18 now, about a year or 2 ago me and my brother were browsing the books at the back of a Walmart when some weird energetic guy in his late 30s or 40s approaches us. He talks about dnd which didn't seem odd as I had been looking at the players handbook. He pulls out what he says is this super rare expensive game and starts talking about his adventures in Vegas. He showed us all his credit cards and s--- and offered us each 100 bucks to follow him around the store in his disabled cart (this guy seemed completely fit). Luckily for me I'm not an i---- and wouldn't do that but I also noticed the distinct lack of cash in his wallet for that offer and just how creepy that was."

Bewildering Howls

U/idkbbitswatev: "I was a kid. I was at popeyes with my dad and my twin brother. As were sitting down waiting for our order there was this old, grey haired, gruff-looking homeless guy, howling then grinning and laughing, repeatedly. I dont remember being particularly scared but more-so just extremely bewildered at how he was acting. I asked my dad why he was doing that and of course he gave me the obvious answer, 'Hes mentally sick'. I just remember looking at him for some time and then he finally acknowledged me and stared right at me, right into my eyes and howled, and then a grimace while laughing, it was very unnerving. I dont remember much from my childhood but thats one memory thats burned into head. Part of me wonders if he was the universe alluding to something that would happen later on in my life."

Puppy Love

U/strobelight26: "In high school I worked at a humane society thrift store as a cashier. The building used to be an old 2 room theatre, so the checkout area had the glass panels surrounding it in a square. This man, probably in his 60s, was standing at the glass and was very obviously hitting on me. The owner of the thrift store often brought her dog and she would hangout in the boxed in checkout area. Creepy man goes 'that’s a cute puppy' and I agreed and then he looked at me and said 'you would make a good puppy'. It’s a gross thing to say to an adult let alone a teenager."

Strange Van Offer

U/pegman55: "Not really 'chills', but a couple months ago I stopped at a service station down the motorway for food. As I parked up, this van came up to me and a guy with an Irish accent (2nd guy in passenger seat) rolled the window down and started telling me how he had stolen Amazon goods in the back of his van. He asked if I wanted a look in the back to see if there’s anything I wanted for a low price. I of course said no. But I did wonder what was in the back there, it was broad daylight and the car park was busy."

Urban Pursuit

U/Skye_1444: "Drove out to an urban legend bridge with a friend to test the urban legend and there was someone else at the bridge - my friend told me not to get out of the car - rolled down the window and spoke with the man for a minute and then continued on down the road. I had a gut feeling and said 'he’s going to start following us' and headlights popped up behind us and followed us all the way down to the end of this dark rural dirt road, we flipped a u’ey and he did too and followed us all the way to the other end of the road, into town, and didn’t stop until we’d lost him making a bunch of different turns in a random subdivision we accidentally turned into trying to get away from him."

Troubling Bar Conversation

"I was in a bar in San Francisco in the mid-90's and completely relaxed at a little table when I saw a guy walk in out of the corner of my eye. Immediately got guarded which is not usual for me. I pictured him opening fire on all of us but he was not behaving aggressively. He had a bright red down jacket on and hair dyed jet black. He was just very unusual looking. Of course he sat next to me when he got a drink, and of course he wanted to talk. He went on about being fired from work today and how he was thinking about returning to 'hurt people.' I got away from this guy very fast. No, I never reported anything but probabaly should have."

Hooded Stranger

U/buboop61814: "Was waiting at a bus stop while in college. Was something like 2am and had some takeout, was wearing a hoodie and was surrounded by a bunch of partygoers, all of us heading back to our dorms. I was sober and had been studying that night, out of nowhere I was approached by a guy who I guess thought I was like him due to it hoodie. He came up pretty close to me and said something along the lines of 'we gonna get one tonight, one of them stragglers...gonna get some tonight'. Luckily there were some cops at that stop so after he walked a bit away as I was silent I just walked up to them and warned them."

Bittersweet Impressions

U/Sorry-Ad3821: "For the summer I work at a concession for a ball park. I get run into many different types of people and have many different stories. But one day a guy came up, and he gave me such a bad vibe. I have never gotten such a bad vibe from someone. He was with I’m assuming his 2 kids. He ordered his food, and i couldn’t stop looking at him. And I wanted him to go away because how uncomfortable I felt. (He didn’t even do anything, to make me feel uncomfortable) He payed and left and came back, and the same feeling came back again. (Note, when I work register I barely even look at people face’s because we go so fast and have so many people, something just made me look at him)."

Mysterious Greeting

U/HeartachetoHouston: "Maybe this person knew me from somewhere but I swear I had never seen them before. I was in Colorado vacationing with family a couple years ago, my wife and my sisters went into a shop a block down the street in Breck while I was browsing in another one. After I finished I exited the store and turned down the street to catch up. I made it 20 feet and someone walked past and said, 'Hey u/heartachetohouston!' And kept on walking. I turned around and saw the back of their head disappear into the crowded street. I have no idea who that person was or where they knew me from. It was weird."

Forgotten Echoes

U/Educational-Slide482: "When I was a little girl. Like 4 or 5 maybe. I watched a guy rip a shirt off my mom, it was his apparently. I always thought it was a dream. He came into my work once. And recognized my mom in me or something and asked if I was her daughter. I knew instantly who it was. I finally asked my mom who said it was true that happened and the name of the guy."

Unshakeable Stares

U/Somethingwitty814: "About 15 years ago I was in a Walmart, and I kept noticing the same guy in my line of vision, looking at me. I kept moving around the store and so did he. Finally I was like f--- this guy, I’m going to start following HIM. And I didn’t let him out of my sight until I was close to the exit. Finally, I’m in the parking lot unlocking my car and he pops up from nowhere and says, “You’re *name*, right?” I was not name, and luckily he left when I told him that. Could have been innocent? I really don’t know."

Park Disturbance

U/keyylime0x0: "It was a long time ago, but I still remember - I was at a water park when I was 5 or 6 and lost track of my parents for a few minutes. A stranger - middle aged man - came over and started talking to me. Not to help me out, or ask where my parents were, but to tell me I was such a pretty girl and if I wanted to come with him, that it would be fun. I didn't like how that felt so I started walking away, confused and nervous - luckily right then my parents found me and when they swept in, he just disappeared back into the crowd. Lucky things went that way."

Online Stalker

U/fallentwilightx: "I used to get a coffee from Tim’s before work when I was still in school. Went the one day and this guy in the drive through asked my name. I told him my first name only (very generic name), and he asked me out. I said no and never went back to that location. A day later I got messages on Facebook and instagram from this guy harassing me and calling me a b---- for saying no. His Facebook wall was full of videos of people getting murdered. I only told him my first name and he stalked the s--- out of me. There are so many people with my name, it must have taken him ages. I saw him wandering around the mall where I worked a few times after that. I’m still convinced he was hunting me down. Horrifying."

What We Can Learn From This

What makes this collection remarkable is how often normal, everyday moments turned unnerving. A quick walk to the store, a late-night gas stop, a friendly conversation at work - any of those scenes showed up in someone else’s story. The common thread is the squeeze of sudden unease, the instant that something does not feel right. That small signal mattered in lots of the posts, and it can matter for you too.

Why Your Gut Instinct Matters

You read these stories and the common advice pops up: trust your gut. Nearly every poster says they felt a jolt of wrongness before anything obvious happened. That feeling is not paranoia, it is information - crude and imperfect but often useful. Acting on it does not require proof, just a choice to prioritize your safety.

Simple, Low-key Safety Moves

Most of these encounters were defused by small, practical moves - walking into a packed place, raising your voice, or getting back in the car. Keep your phone handy, tell someone where you are heading, and don’t be afraid to make a scene if you need to. These steps don’t cost much and they change the odds in your favor. They are not guarantees, but they help a lot.

When To Tell Someone And What To Say

A surprising number of people reported things to staff or police, and that helped. If you feel watched or followed, tell an employee or call authorities and give clear, short details: where you are, what the person looks like, which direction they went. Stay on the line if you can, or send your live location to a friend. Simple facts keep responders working quickly and reduce the chance of confusion.

Why These Stories Stick With Us

These tales stick because the creepy details are small and specific: a grin, a van, someone humming the same laugh. Those little images lodge in memory and replay long after the event. Sharing them on Reddit did two things: it let people name what they felt and it showed how many of us have similar, unsettling brushups with strangers. That alone makes these posts worth reading and remembering.