Government employees don't legitimately recruit civilians without making them sign a mountain of paperwork and lots of tedious travel through the bureaucracy. Anyone who asks you on the spot to do something that makes you vulnerable, or doesn't explain its full purpose, doesn't have your best interests at heart.

But they do... It's well known that they'll give someone a piece of fruit to test one of their beagles in customs.

Sounds like they were testing the dog.

Why would they do that with a random traveler and not one of their own employees, though?

Perhaps because the dog would know the agents?

So get a volunteer from non-TSA employees who work at the airport in whatever capacity and clear it with their boss? I agree that this is a bit skeevy.

There are all sorts of alternatives. I'm just noting why they might not pick a local staff who has interacted with the dog.

I find the story interesting, but also it seems unlikely these guys are trying some real frame up job with a coat that their target is seen in the airport not wearing, and the security person carrying around. If anything it sounds like some guys goofing around.

The "aaaahh man!" reaction seems way too casual/jokey for a criminal setup that could have serious consequences for everyone involved. If I realized my scam target wasn't playing along, I'd probably nervously pretend that's completely fine and thank them for their time (something like that).

I have heard that it is common for a drug dealer to put drugs on a victim, and tell the officials. The officials then let the 'real' carrier through.

Have you considered contacting the airport / TSA?

I've considered it, but I didn't think to ask for the guy's name or agent number so I'm not sure they would be able to do anything

They might have it on surveillance cameras.

I think it is worth letting them know.

Sounds suspicious to me. Wonder if that was legitimate within the lines of both the law and policy. I'd be thinking they are a fake agent, trying to get you to smuggle drugs. Then in some countries, drug charges result in the death penalty. One country was going to just deport someone after prison, but the Canadian government arrested a business executive, so they at random decided to give the guy a new trial and his time its death. So instead of looking at the individual and his crime, they factored in his country of citizenship into his punishment.

So drugs are nothing to play with, even little traces left behind on you or luggage could be detected. Then some countries consider drugs in your blood, the same as smuggling. However I don't know any country that forces people to get blood tests to enter, and if so that wouldn't be a place to vacation anyways as too invasive.

I used to listen to a radio show about conspiracy theories, so it wouldn't surprise me if they try to set people up to meet a quota. Haven't listened much since he was deplatformed by big tech, but there is a theory that the second underwear bomber was set up by the CIA thinking it was a test and he'd be an informant. Even the CIA allowed him on the plane without a passport. I never investigated the claims myself. I feel like this site isn't a fan of conspiracy theories, even though conspiracy theories are interesting in a way. There's even one about the Titanic about it being swapped for insurance fraud. One of the captains took the ship out for a joyride and put a hole in it. So they patched it just enough to pass inspection, so they knew it was going to sink.

So many horror stories about the TSA and customs kinda makes you not want to travel. Sounds like everyone is a criminal until proven innocent with these people, even a story that was posted on HN earlier this year about people being randomly profiled at train stations... Which I don't think considers some people are afraid of flying or find railroads interesting, aren't in a rush to get there as seems like a good way to force yourself to disconnect and relax a bit, like hopping back in time. I have never been on a train outside of theme parks, but always thought a cross country train ride would be sentic and interesting, however they are cutting services it sounds since trains aren't really profitable anymore. Now supposed to be more like airplane meals than the dining cars, so maybe not as classical as it used to be. Some people get obsessed over trains, big trucks like semis or construction equipment, planes, etc.

I'm interested in cruise ships as a city floating on water is fascinating, and sounds relaxing. So I joined a group about cruising on Facebook, seen a post one day where a woman posted a story about how she was treated like a criminal because she went on a cruise alone and they played 20 questions with her... So I guess you must be married, have a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend to go on a vacation and enjoy yourself... It just seems unhuman some of these stories, profiling, and stuff. I guess we're all supposed to just stay home and be closed-minded racists instead of exploring the world - and many people dream of traveling the world but never do, some say when they retire... So I guess it's normal to want to explore the world, but not normal at the same time.

Kinda feels like we're living in some sort of police state and freedom is just an illusion, like stuff out of books and movies - think 1984. A shame compared to what our founding fathers and military fought for, wouldn't surprise me if they are turning in their graves how much the first, second and fourth amendments have been attacked, watered own, reinterpreted. I even question if police and politicians who sworn to uphold the constitution have even read it or just raised their hand and repeated what they were told.

I'm surprised the big companies in the travel industry don't try to fix this. It seems more about theater than actual security along with a job program. You can go from flipping burgers one week to groping people the next week. But maybe making people take out their laptop risking it being stolen, along with taking off their shoes, belts, where they're pants are falling is just to drive people to pay for pre-check. I know some airports have set up their private security, but not sure if it's any better. Also seen some airports have some new x-ray that could see through batteries so they might not need to remove laptops in the future, so maybe technology can help fix this problem if applied right.

In my opinion, the solution to being pestered by these watchmen is to complain in writing to the superior authority.

The complaint should include the date, time, location, a short description of who approached you and what happened and of your emotional state at the time.

Be aware that the superior authority will inform you of receiving your complaint and that no actions have been taken against the watchman in question, no matter what actually happened.