AIBU for giving a distressed woman a lift to safety?

[Shouldihavehelped]

Hi, long time poster just name changed for this one.
This morning on my way to work lady walked in front of my car waving her hands about 5am in the morning. She was very upset and told me her boyfriend destroyed her phone and attacked her. She asked for a lift to a friend's house and was struggling to speak with how upset she was. I let her get in my car and took her to a friend's house. I then went to work as normal.

This is my AIBU my colleagues told me I was gullible and it could have been very dangerous. She could have stolen my car, my phone, my money. Could have been a kidnapping etc. My mum said the same aswell. I don't regret helping her, I've watched my dash cam footage since coming home and could hear the panic in her voice. She could have been hit by a car or even kidnapped herself. So was I unreasonable for what I did.

Yabu: should have ignored the woman and continued on my day.

Yanbu: did the right thing helping.

I think the time of day would have made me stop. 5am is surely unlikely to be a scam - not many cars out at that time, wouldn’t scammers wait till later (or do later at night). Plus you had a gut feeling - I wouldn’t underestimate that.

That’s not to say you’d do the same again - you risk assess each situation you come across surely?

This isn't Johannesburg, capital of hijacking. Nothing to worry about or lose sleep over!

Personally I wouldn't have let her in my car but I would have called a number for her so someone coild pick her up or 999 or called a taxi.

Another version is where someone apparently vulnerable (sole female) bangs on your door late at night and asks for help. If you open the door you risk having an accomplice force their way in. The sensible thing is to offer to call the police or appropriate emergency services for them. Or tell them you have done so. If the unknown caller suddenly disappears you know it was a scam.

We had a similar scam on A14 major road near where I live - a woman walking along the hard shoulder of the slip road , looking distressed waving down cars and waving a petrol can. Luckily I had seen the very same person in that location twice in the preceding couple of days. I didn’t stop but
called the police in case she was truly in trouble; A few months later there was an article in the local paper which revealed she was part of a gang - associates would jump into any cars that stopped and steal bags/phones etc, or beg for petrol money through the windows if people didn’t open their doors.

I did this once. She looked familiar but I couldn't work out where from. It was only a few days later watching telly that I realised. The lady was Britney Spears.

I have done similar. It was winter and so cold outside that there was ice on the ground. The young woman was distressed, no coat, and we (DH and I) stopped, let her in the car to warm up. Then after talking to her, she said she was 14. We called 999. She had run away from a care home. The police must have contacted the care home as they came and picked her up after a short while. She tried to run away from them. We left her and I have always wished I could have done more. When I later called the care home to see how she was they scolded me and said she was manipulative and could have ‘caused problems’. I really think something is wrong with the world if this is the response. I still think about this girl, her hard life, and wish I could help more.

OP, you knew it was genuine and of course you did the right thing.