Unfortunately, “Team Rocket” was also unintentionally incorporated into Pokémon Go!
Pokémon GO is currently THE mobile game and is extremely popular among millions of players around the world. This strong success, however, unfortunately also brings players into the peaceful adventure who can turn this experience into a nightmare – This recently happened in the USA.
Baited and robbed
In Pokémon GO, the goal is to catch as many Pokémon and improve them. To do that, most of the time you go outside and catch the little monsters in the “wild”. Additionally, there are so-called “PokéStops” in the game where players can receive rewards like Poké Balls and potions. Another feature in the game is the “Lure Module” – With this module, you can attract Pokémon to a PokéStop for 30 minutes – Other trainers benefit from this as there is a high chance of catching many little monsters there.
This lure module was likely used to lead unsuspecting trainers into an ambush. A group of young men aged 16-18 had waited for trainers at such a PokéStop with the help of a weapon, likely targeting those who wanted to take advantage of the lure module. In total, there were 10 to 11 armed robbery incidents that followed this pattern (Source: USA Today).
In a Facebook post, the O’Fallon Missouri Police Department pointed out these robberies and urges caution!
Think about your safety!
It is especially important that you do not simply follow every lead of a wild Pokémon or a PokéStop “blindly”. As you can see, this can quickly end with an unpleasant surprise if Team Rocket sympathizers have too much boredom. So be sure to pay attention to your surroundings when following a lead of a Pokémon. The lure module is intended as a social gimmick meant to unite Pokémon trainers – But unfortunately, it can also be used for the exact opposite.
Please be mindful on your upcoming Pokémon adventures!
