Worried about a child

[TeaAndSlippers]

Not really AIBU but just feel so guilty.

I was waiting for a bus to take me to my hospital appointment (unavoidable even due to Covid) and there was a young girl in the shelter with me. She was far enough away from me I wasn't too worried. She randomly asked me if it's okay to meet someone online. I was quite aghast at this. I said no she's really too young. She told me she was 9 and was I sure? I said yes it's not ok and she should tell an adult if someone is trying to meet her. She just laughed and it made me feel sick to my stomach.

She asked me if I had met anyone online and I didn't know what to say, because I have met loads of people online but I'm nearly 30, I do look a lot younger and I was wearing my mask so I who knows how old she thought I was. Before I even opened my mouth, she was away on her scooter yelling "Bye" and zooming along the pavement! I haven't been able to stop thinking about her. I don't know her name and I didn't even really look at her for more than a few seconds. I'll probably never see her again. But my main worry is she being groomed online?

I know there's nothing I can do but I feel so helpless. I wish I'd asked her more instead of answering her question I guess.

I guess all you can do is be there at a similar time for a day or two to see if she's around. I thought you were going to say she was older. 9, shocked me. If she does turn up maybe tell her to speak to her Mum as it's too dangerous to do this. And spell out the dangers in an age appropriate way. My neighbours v immature teen was accepting gifts of cash off an old (60's) guy she'd met on a bus. I told her mother as he'd also bought booze & said 'you can drink it at mine' & 'i know you're not 16' ( she'd lied about her age).

@CSIblonde I travelled by local train first so this stop wasn't near where I live (should've said that, I know) so I shouldn't really travel there to look out for someone I might not see. Oh I've really made a mess of this, haven't I?

That would scare me. Hopefully she has a good family who is looking out for her. Bit young to be out alone though my SDs 8 and she's tiny can't even do her seat belt up bless her.

A little girl (maybe 12 at a stretch) once asked me in the street for directions to a nearby, dodgy, town. It was a 4 mile walk, I had no money to offer bus fare (dog walking), no purse). Said it was a very long way but directed her, more or less one straight road. Said that didn’t matter, then asked the time and said she just needed to get there, how long would it take? she had meeting someone, then off she ran.

It just wasn’t right. She was very small, had make up on and was very, very agitated so I called 999. I expected them to tick me off but the handler took me very seriously, took a description and said they would send out a patrol car. About 3 hours later I was called back and told they had picked the girl up, she was a runaway and now in the care of SS.
I would echo a PP. Go to the stop at the same time and if she’s there again, please report.

@MissMarpleDarling I do hope so. I was allowed around the block at her age and probably would talk to a woman in the bus shelter too, if I wanted to ask her something

I agree with @denisetheMenace, I think you have nothing to lose by notifying the police - you never know, your report might be an important sighting

Oh my goodness that’s frightening. Online devices can be great but they can be a curse too.

If report it to police

I’d