Olivia Mack, who goes by @oamack online, claims a stranger attempted to enter her apartment while she was working from home. She detailed the encounter in a video posted on July 23, which has attracted roughly 53,800 likes and hundreds of comments. When confronted, the man reportedly spoke about kidnapping and killing children.
Mack was sitting at her desk when she heard knocking at her apartment door. At first she believed it could be the delivery person, because she had noticed that a package was expected to arrive. But then she heard someone typing on her keypad.
She said no one other than trusted maintenance workers had ever needed to use the keypad before, and she had not gotten any warning that maintenance was on its way. She also heard the door handle being moved up and down, even though the door was locked with a deadbolt.
Her alarm went off, and she hurried to the door, peered through the peephole, and found a bald man in glasses and a flannel shirt standing there. She knocked to prompt an answer from him, yet received none. Instead, she watched as he placed his hands near the peephole and moved them down across the door, leaving what appeared to be claw marks.
Terrified, Mack reached out to her mother, neighbor, and boyfriend for help. It was her neighbor who supplied the telephone number of a maintenance worker employed by her apartment complex. Mack subsequently contacted that individual herself.
The maintenance crew showed up and announced they would inspect the surrounding area. Mack responded that her boyfriend could leave work and come and collect her. The workers subsequently spotted the man somewhere else inside the building.
Mack mentioned that police were involved, but she admitted she had no idea what happened to the man afterwards.
The Chain of Calls
Once Mack understood that something was wrong, the chain of events moved quickly, and here is the breakdown of how it happened:
- Knocking at the door, followed by keypad activity.
- Hearing the door handle moving.
- Looking through the peephole and seeing the man.
- Calling her mother, neighbor, and boyfriend.
- Getting the maintenance worker’s number from her neighbor.
- Contacting maintenance directly.
- Maintenance workers arriving and spotting the man elsewhere.
- Police involvement.
Each step pushed the situation forward until help arrived.
What the Video Shows
Mack gave a detailed description of the man’s look. He was bald, wore glasses, and was dressed in a flannel shirt. Mack watched him place his hands near the peephole and run them down the door, leaving what appeared to be claw marks.
The door remained closed and secured; she refused to open it and instead sat there awaiting aid.
What the Commenters Said
A number of commenters on the video described their own encounters with unexpected guests. Several recommended that more individuals install security cameras, keep doors locked, and reach out to dependable neighbors. Other viewers took issue with Mack for contacting her family and neighbors before calling 911.
Commenters noted that fear can cloud judgment, leading people to respond in ways they might not otherwise.
The Unverified Story
The Daily Dot cannot confirm the story told in this video, including who the man shown is or what happened after the police arrived. The information comes from the account posted on TikTok by @oamack.
That caution bears repeating: the account comes from a single narrator, and nothing here verifies the man’s name or his fate after police got involved.
What the Woman Warned Viewers
Mack cautioned viewers against assuming that an unexpected visitor signals an emergency demanding the door be opened. Instead, she urged trusting one’s instincts and taking steps to verify the situation first: checking through a peephole, consulting a security camera, contacting building management, or reaching out to another trusted individual.
The advice she offers has a plain purpose: it urges people to pause and consider carefully before opening up to someone who arrives without warning at their door.
The Schedule of Events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| First knock | Mack hears knocking at her apartment door |
| Keypad noise | Someone types on her keypad |
| Door handle heard | Mack hears the door handle going up and down |
| Peephole check | Mack looks through the peephole and sees the man |
| Call for help | Mack calls her mother, neighbor, and boyfriend |
| Maintenance number | Neighbor gives her the maintenance worker’s phone number |
| Contact maintenance | Mack gets in touch with the maintenance worker directly |
| Workers arrive | Maintenance workers arrive and spot the man elsewhere |
| Police involved | Police become involved |
The Uneasy Verdict
A woman found herself afraid inside her own dwelling. A stranger attempted to enter against her will, leaving marks upon the portal, and spoke in a manner that spoke of taking children and putting them to death. The account ends without revealing what became of the man.
The conclusion leaves an uneasy feeling. It confirms that the danger was genuine, the conflict took place, and the outcome remains unresolved.
The Daily Dot’s inability to verify the story adds to the unease. We are left with one person’s account, a video, and a collection of comments from people who shared their own experiences.
Mack’s experience teaches a plain lesson: always check first. A peephole, a security camera, building management, or a trusted neighbor should be used before opening the door. Trust your instincts.
That advice holds even when the outcome is unknown.
Source material: “Woman Working From Home Nearly Opened Her Door to a Stranger Who Was Trying to Get In — He Made Disturbing Comments When Confronted,” The Daily Dot.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.