Today I left my car in a parking lot and went to take care of some errands

On an ordinary morning, I arrived at the multi-story parking lot near the shopping center. I had a long list of errands to run, including groceries for the whole week, so my mind was already focused on what I needed to buy. The parking lot wasn’t particularly crowded, and the day seemed calm, like any other.

After finishing the shopping for the week, I walked back to the car with a bag in each hand. I was already thinking about lunch and the relaxation waiting for me at home. But when I got closer to the car, something caught my attention. A 50-euro banknote, neatly folded, was placed on the windshield, right under the wiper. I stood there for a few moments staring at it, confused. The sun’s rays reflected on the surface of the banknote, making it shine like a small hidden treasure.

The thought of an anonymous gesture of kindness crossed my mind. Maybe someone had decided to make a gift, or perhaps it had been lost by accident. I didn’t give it too much importance, but something seemed odd. The banknote was too visible, too carefully placed, as if it had been put there intentionally to draw attention. A shiver of unease ran through me, but I quickly tried to brush it off. I just had to pick it up and go home.

Still, something inside told me not to touch it right away. I had to be careful. I had the feeling that something was wrong, though I couldn’t explain exactly what. Instead of grabbing the banknote, I pulled out my phone and took a picture. Maybe I would discover something or at least have proof to show others what had happened.

In the meantime, I got into the car and started the engine, but I didn’t leave. I felt a hard-to-explain unease, as if I was missing something essential. That’s when I decided to do a quick internet search. I typed “banknote on windshield scam” and, within seconds, I found numerous articles. What I read made my blood run cold.

Apparently, in some cities in Italy, a scam was spreading more and more. Thieves, taking advantage of people’s inattention, placed banknotes on car windshields. The trick was simple yet devious: when the victim got out of the car to grab the money, they left the door open or, even worse, the engine running. At that exact moment, an accomplice would jump into the car and drive off within seconds. A perfect trap, carefully planned down to the smallest detail.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I couldn’t believe it. Everything I had seen – that visible banknote, the distraction – was nothing but a setup. A cunning and dangerous plan.

Without wasting another second, I grabbed the phone and called the police. My heart was pounding as I explained the situation to an officer, who already seemed familiar with such cases. The serious, professional tone of the voice on the other end reassured me a little, but also showed me the gravity of the matter. The police had, in fact, already received other reports in the area about similar scams.

Within minutes, a patrol car arrived in the parking lot. An officer approached my car and, after listening to my story, confirmed that these cases were becoming more frequent, with scammers using the same method. He advised me to stay inside the car and not touch the banknote, because they would send a team to inspect the area and look for clues. I couldn’t do anything but wait, trembling, inside.

I carefully scanned my surroundings, focusing on every detail. Some passersby walked calmly, unaware of what was happening. There was no sign of the thieves, but my mind kept replaying the articles I had just read. That banknote wasn’t there by chance, and I knew I couldn’t be naïve.

After a few minutes, the officer came back and told me they were checking the area, but for safety, it would be better not to stay there. The scammers could still be nearby, or perhaps they had already found another victim.

The tension didn’t ease, and I only felt relief when I saw the police car driving away, the officer giving me one last reassuring look. I didn’t know if it had just been a coincidence or if I had really avoided a scam, but that day surely taught me a lesson. There was no more room for carelessness, not even in places that seemed the safest.

My heart only calmed down once I got home, but I knew that from then on, every time I would find money on my car, I would be much more cautious, more careful. Caution, nowadays, is the only defense against the invisible dangers surrounding us.