Katrina Rosales
A long-standing internet urban legend warns of robbers subduing people in parking lots with perfume laced with ether or hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Axter). The legend, which first appeared in 1999, claims that robbers approach people, usually women, and offer them discounted perfume to smell, which causes them to lose consciousness. While this claim has been widely circulated and shared, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, it has been debunked by sources such as Snopes and Tech ARP, who have confirmed that there are no known cases of robbers using this tactic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year the legend began | 1999 |
| Date the legend was debunked | June 2000 |
| Substance used | Ether, Axter, Hydroxyzine |
| Location | Canada, Alabama |
| Nature of the scam | People are approached and asked about the perfume they are wearing, and then offered a sample of a different scent at a discounted price. The "perfume" is actually a substance that causes people to faint. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The 'perfume shock' or ''perfume knockout' tactic
The "perfume shock" or "perfume knockout" tactic is a long-standing urban legend that has been circulating since 1999. It warns of strangers approaching individuals, particularly women, in parking lots, shopping malls, and other public places, offering them samples of discounted perfume with the intention of drugging and robbing them. The story often involves victims being lured by the offer of a bargain, such as expensive perfume being sold at a significantly reduced price. Upon smelling the "perfume," the victims allegedly faint or lose consciousness, waking up later to discover their valuables missing.
This legend gained traction through widely circulated internet messages, emails, and social media posts, with people sharing their alleged encounters or warnings from friends and acquaintances. The warnings often include specific details such as locations, times, and descriptions of the perpetrators to add an air of credibility. However, despite the persistent nature of these stories, fact-checking websites like Snopes have repeatedly debunked them, tracing the claims back to a single unverified police report from 1999.
In the original report, a 54-year-old woman named Bertha Johnson claimed that she was approached in a bank parking lot by a woman offering to sell her $45 bottles of cologne for just $8. After sniffing the sample, Ms. Johnson claimed that she found herself in a disoriented state half an hour later, standing with her keys in a location two miles from the bank. While this incident sparked concerns about a potential new robbery tactic, subsequent investigations have failed to substantiate similar occurrences.
Despite the lack of evidence, the "perfume shock" or "perfume knockout" legend continues to persist and evolve, with new variations of the story emerging over time. The underlying message remains consistent: beware of strangers offering perfume samples in public places, as they may be laced with drugs or substances like ether or hydroxyzine that can cause dizziness or unconsciousness. While it's important to stay vigilant and aware of one's surroundings, it's also crucial to verify information before spreading fear or panic based on unsubstantiated claims.
Secret Crush Perfume: The Cost of Attraction
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The use of ether to render victims unconscious
The legend typically involves a woman being approached by two men or a man and a woman in a shopping mall or store parking lot. The men offer the woman a sample of a supposedly discounted or high-end perfume, which is actually ether or another strong substance that causes the victim to lose consciousness. Once the victim is knocked out, the robbers then steal their money, jewellery, or other valuables.
Ether, also known as diethyl ether, has a long history of use as a surgical anaesthetic. In the mid-19th century, physicians like Crawford Williamson Long and Thomas Morton began experimenting with ether as an anaesthetic agent during surgery. Long, in particular, is credited with successfully removing a tumour from a patient's neck while the patient was anesthetized with ether in 1842. However, despite its historical use in medicine, ether can be dangerous and has fallen out of favour as a surgical anaesthetic in modern times.
While the use of ether to render victims unconscious in parking lot robberies may be a myth, it is important to remain vigilant and aware of potential dangers. If approached by strangers offering discounted or unknown perfumes, it is advisable to decline and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
Chanel's Coco Perfume: What's the Price Tag?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The role of social media in spreading warnings and legends
Social media plays a significant role in spreading warnings and legends, as exemplified by the "perfume robbers" legend. This legend, which first emerged in late 1999, involves stories of robbers using ether-filled perfume bottles to subdue victims in parking lots. While it was debunked by Snopes in 2000 and 2001, it continues to circulate, especially on platforms like Facebook.
The legend typically involves warnings shared by concerned individuals who claim to have been approached by suspicious individuals offering perfume for sale at a discounted price. The warnings advise recipients to be cautious and pass the message on to their friends, especially women. This sense of urgency and the desire to protect others contribute to the legend's propagation.
Social media platforms, with their ability to facilitate rapid and widespread dissemination of information, become powerful tools for spreading such warnings. The "perfume shock" or "perfume knockout" tactic, as it is often called, gains traction through social media sharing, with people copying and pasting the warnings onto their profiles or sending them directly to their contacts.
Despite the lack of evidence supporting these claims, the legend persists and evolves, with new details being added over time. This evolution is influenced by similar reports, such as the "Axter" or hydroxyzine-laced perfume scam, which further fuels the belief in the original legend.
While social media can be a valuable tool for raising awareness and sharing important information, it can also contribute to the spread of unverified warnings and legends. The "perfume robbers" legend illustrates how a combination of concern, caution, and social media sharing can perpetuate a narrative that may not be entirely accurate.
The Dream Angel Perfume: Price and Review
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The involvement of multiple perpetrators in the alleged scam
The alleged scam involving robbers subduing people in parking lots with perfume has been a widely circulated urban legend for many years. Despite being debunked by Snopes and others, it continues to persist and evolve, with new details being added over time.
The original story from 1999 warned of robbers using ether-filled perfume bottles to render their victims unconscious in shopping mall parking lots. The story involved two male perpetrators who would approach a potential victim, ask about the perfume they were wearing, and then offer them a sample of a different scent at a discounted price. If the victim agreed to smell the fake perfume, they would be knocked out, allowing the robbers to steal their valuables.
Over time, the story has evolved to include new details, such as the involvement of additional perpetrators. In some variations of the story, the perpetrators are described as a group of people, including both men and women, working together to target unsuspecting victims. This evolution likely adds an extra layer of complexity and danger to the narrative, making it even more frightening and believable to those who encounter it.
The involvement of multiple perpetrators allows for more elaborate scenarios to unfold. For example, while one perpetrator engages with the victim by offering them the drugged perfume, another might act as a lookout, ensuring a smooth escape once the victim is unconscious. Alternatively, they might play the role of a concerned bystander, warning the victim of the potential danger and directing them away from the perpetrators. This diversionary tactic could help to establish trust and increase the likelihood of the victim falling for the scam.
The evolution of the story to include more perpetrators highlights the enduring nature of this urban legend and its ability to adapt and spread across different platforms, including email, social media, and word-of-mouth. Despite the lack of evidence supporting these claims, the persistent warnings and detailed narratives contribute to a sense of fear and vigilance among those who encounter them.
Beyonce Heat Perfume: Irish Pricing and Availability
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The potential impact on victims' safety and financial losses
The potential impact on victims of the so-called "perfume scam" could be significant, with reports of victims losing consciousness and waking up to find they have been robbed, sometimes with their cars moved to different locations. The financial losses incurred by victims can also be substantial, with one victim reporting the theft of $800 from her wallet.
The psychological impact on victims cannot be overlooked either. The trauma of being rendered unconscious and robbed can lead to long-lasting feelings of fear, anxiety, and a sense of violation. Victims may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, such as flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance. They may also develop a heightened sense of suspicion and distrust towards strangers, impacting their ability to interact socially and affecting their overall quality of life.
Additionally, there is a potential physical risk to victims as well. Being unexpectedly subdued with a chemical agent, such as ether or hydroxyzine, can lead to injuries from falling or being taken advantage of in other ways while unconscious. Victims may suffer concussions, physical assault, or even be involved in accidents if they lose consciousness while driving or operating machinery.
The financial losses for victims can extend beyond the immediate theft of cash or valuables. In some cases, personal information or financial documents may be stolen, leading to identity theft and further financial fraud. Victims may need to incur costs for replacing stolen items, repairing any damage caused during the robbery, and seeking medical or psychological treatment for any physical or emotional injuries sustained.
It is important to note that while the "perfume scam" has been widely circulated as an urban legend, there have been no confirmed instances of this specific type of robbery occurring. However, the potential impact on victims' safety and financial well-being is significant enough to warrant caution and awareness. Individuals should remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
Best Places to Buy Ralph Lauren Rocks Perfume
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, this is a long-standing internet urban legend. The claim that robbers are using perfume to knock people out is false and has been debunked multiple times.
The legend warns people about robbers who approach individuals in parking lots and offer them samples of discounted perfume with the intention of drugging and robbing them. It also mentions that these robbers may ask about the kind of perfume a person is wearing.
The substance has been referred to as ether, Axter, or a sleeping agent. Hydroxyzine hydrochloride, a drug with drowsiness or dizziness as a side effect, has been suggested as a possible chemical that could be used in such a robbery scheme. However, it is taken orally and is not volatile, so it cannot be used to subdue someone through smell.
The legend appears to have originated from a single unverified police report in 1999. A woman claimed that she was approached in a parking lot and offered a sample of perfume to smell. After sniffing the perfume, she claimed to have lost consciousness and awoken to find herself robbed. This report was later circulated widely online, often with additional details and variations, and it evolved into a general warning about the supposed perfume robbery tactic.
