Australian radio presenter Grace Newton-Wordsworth, who hosts a show on Joy FM and performs in the band Joan & the Giants, has spoken publicly about a frightening incident in Melbourne that she believes may have been an attempted trafficking attempt. She said she was walking home alone in the early hours after a night out when a man approached her under the pretext of asking for a lighter, then pressed her with questions including where she lived before offering to drive her home. This matters because it has sparked wider concern among women about safety while walking alone at night, with the story prompting others to share similar frightening experiences online.

Newton-Wordsworth said she trusted her instincts and declined the man's offer, but grew suspicious when a white car appeared to loiter nearby before reversing as she changed her route, leading her to believe two vehicles were working together. She said she ran into her apartment shaking and scared, convinced she had been deliberately targeted, and urged other women to remain vigilant. After she shared the account on Instagram, several women responded describing comparable incidents in Melbourne, including one who said a man tried to force her into a car. Victoria Police have been contacted for comment.