Unfortunately, we live in a world where it isn’t always safe to go for a walk by yourself especially in the dark and especially if you’re a young woman. However, sometimes there isn’t another option. 

Especially in the winter when it gets dark so early, you might find yourself walking home from work or school after sunset. You may not even realize what time it is, and suddenly you don’t feel safe in your surroundings.

After dark isn’t the only time you might not feel safe. You might notice someone following you or feel unsafe any time of day. If this happens, you need to be prepared, and thanks to TikTok creators Mendy Perdew and Craig Conrad, all you need is your phone in order to make anyone around you believe that you’re not really alone.

One day Perdew was supposed to answer a phone call from her friend, but she was busy and didn’t hear the call. Thankfully, her friend was alright, but it got her thinking that it might be helpful to have a fake video call available that people could play on their phone if they didn’t have someone to talk to. The script for the fake call could be vague enough to be appropriate for a lot of people and a lot of situations, but it could be specific enough to make anyone who overhears the conversation believe that help is on the way.

Conrad started making fake video chat calls when he received feedback that it would be helpful to have a call from someone who looks and sounds like a dad. Watch the video below to hear more about how these fake video calls work and the positive feedback that the creators have already received.

If you are thinking about making your own fake video calls, you might want to watch a couple of Conrad and Perdew’s videos for inspiration. Here is a video Perdew made to help someone who is being followed in a parking lot:

@mendyperdew##safetycall ##mendysworld♬ original sound – Mendy Perdew

Here is a video Perdew created as a fake “mom” call saying “dad” is on the way.

@mendyperdew##safetycall ##fakecall ##mendysworld♬ original sound – Mendy Perdew

As it mentions on all of Perdew and Conrad’s videos, be sure to call 911 if you find yourself in a real emergency. Don’t just rely on a fake video call to get you out of a potentially bad situation. These video calls are mainly intended to help buy you some time so that you can get to safety.