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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Blackmail - threats. Any ideas?

11 replies

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 06/08/2020 12:01

A couple of days ago I was driving (well pulling away from a kerbside parking space in a near empty street, so very slowly). A guy on a motorbike riding in the opposite direction crossed over to my side of the road, coming straight at me, stopped about a metre or so in front of my car, then started taking photos on his phone.
I’d stopped as soon as I’d seen him, then pulled back into the kerb to avoid him – he just drove closer, took more photos, then drove to the window of my car, which I opened about an inch. He started shouting that I’d driven at him, he had photographic evidence and could go to the police – the whole thing was menacing, I don’t know if his intention was to blackmail/demand money? Made no sense.
Once I realised that the whole thing was insane, I closed the window and he rode off. I still feel really shaken whenever I think about it, even though there was no physical violence or definitive threat.
I thought about calling the non-emergency police number, but didn’t have his bike registration so didn’t bother.
Anyone else experienced similar, or have any idea what it might have been about?

OP posts:
DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult · 06/08/2020 12:03

There are a few of these scams.

I highly recommend getting a dashcam.

Cryalot2 · 06/08/2020 12:04

Go to the local police.
It sounds frightening. Flowers

Pelleas · 06/08/2020 12:05

I think you should report it - that way your version of events will be safely on file should he try anything.

Vodkacranberryplease · 06/08/2020 12:05

I had some arsehole try to tell me that I'd caused a scratch on his car because my door had grntly touched his (parking). I looked at it and saw it was a scratch and said 'nice try there's no way that was me' then opened my door and it didn't even line up! So I took photos of that.

Then told him he was lucky I wasn't calling the police myself. Don't be intimidated. That's what they rely on. He will have form for this and is clearly a scammer.

UnfinishedSymphon · 06/08/2020 12:06

Well even if he has dashcam footage it can't prove what didn't happen can it, you said you'd pulled away slowly from the kerb, how can that possibly look like you 'coming at him'? I wouldn't give it a second thought

Whynotnowbaby · 06/08/2020 12:06

Yes, contact the police and tell them what happened. It doesn’t matter that you don’t have his reg, if they do anything, you have already got your side in. The police may also be aware of other incidences of this sort of thing. It sounds terrifying.

CSIblonde · 06/08/2020 12:25

I'm thinking he was trying to get you out of your car & drag you off somewhere if it was a deserted,quiet place.Call the Police.I'd have whipped my phone out,taken his photo (no one dodgy wants a photo taken)&threatened to dial 999 if he didn't leave tbh. I've watched too many Murder on CCTV crime docs where women in their own cars in supermarket car parks late at night were attacked and/or abducted.

Bluepolkadots42 · 06/08/2020 13:05

I've read about this type of scam before- sometimes they'll be on push bikes and will shoot out in front of low speed cars on side roads and claim you've hit them or nearly hit them or they'll stand behind cars parallel parking on side streets and hit your car boot then say you hit their leg etc. It's all BS. I would definitely report it to 101 now so it's logged. Getting a dashcam is another option but irritating to have to put yourself out of pocket because a small minority of people are scamming tossers.

JustAsking1837 · 06/08/2020 13:14

Are there any cctv cameras pointing at this road OP? I think you should report it to the police as this is rather menacing

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 06/08/2020 13:32

Central London - definitely very quiet and deserted right now!

Thank you everyone, I have reported it online just now; I felt a bit daft to do that at first when I had no information such as the bike reg.
I feel a bit more reassured now - although as stupid as I did at the time for not photographing him, although he'd stopped so close that I couldn't see his bike registration once parked.

OP posts:
JustAsking1837 · 06/08/2020 17:31

Well done OP. You did the right thing reporting it. Don't feel daft. It must have been very scary and threatening at the time

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